Matcha pH Levels: Is Matcha Acidic?
Brewed matcha is mildly acidic at pH 5.6–6.3. It is less acidic than coffee (pH 4.85–5.1) but it is not alkaline or neutral — both drinks sit below the neutral point of pH 7. Because pH is logarithmic, the gap means coffee delivers several times more acid per cup than matcha. Source: Najman et al., Molecules (2023).
⚠ Myth: “Matcha is alkaline”
Matcha is sometimes described as “alkaline-forming” — a claim about urinary pH after metabolism, not the drink’s actual pH. Brewed matcha measures pH 5.6–6.3, which is mildly acidic. This is less acidic than coffee, but it is not alkaline. Full comparison →
Matcha pH data
Every value has a source and a transparency tier. Tier 1 = independent lab or peer-reviewed study. Tier 2 = self-reported number. Tier 3 = no number published.
| Name | Type | pH | Tier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green tea infusion (proxy) | Green tea proxy | 5.83-6.39 | Tier 1 | Cited from published study — Bobková et al., Foods |
| Matcha tea aqueous solution | General matcha | 5.58-5.94 | Tier 1 | |
| Matcha tea samples | General matcha | 5.623-5.933 | Tier 1 | |
| Pure matcha aqueous extract | General matcha | 6.2-6.3 | Tier 1 | |
| Matcha | Brand-specific matcha | 9 | Tier 2 | |
| Matcha tea | Brand-specific matcha | 5.5-7 | Tier 2 | |
| Matcha tea | Brand-specific matcha | 7-9 | Tier 2 | |
| Matcha tea | Brand-specific matcha | 5.8-6.4 | Tier 2 | Self-reported by the brand — Riching Matcha blog |
| Organic Matcha Green Tea | Brand-specific matcha | 9 | Tier 2 | Self-reported by the brand — Cooking with Yoshiko blog |
| Matcha | Brand-specific matcha | Not published | Tier 3 | No measurement basis stated — Mafia Matcha 'Why Matcha?' page |
Methodology & data integrity
- Every entry is assigned a transparency tier based on the quality of its source (Tier 1 = independent lab or peer-reviewed study; Tier 2 = self-reported number; Tier 3 = no number published).
- The baseline matcha pH range (pH 5.6–6.3) comes from Najman et al., Molecules (2023).
- We do not publish pH values without a named source. If a brand claims low acidity without publishing a number, it is listed as Tier 3.
- pH is a logarithmic scale. A difference of 1 pH unit = 10× difference in hydrogen ion concentration.