As the first and only decaf matcha brand in the UK, Based in London. We source our decaf matcha from Kyoto, Uji to bring to you the best decaf matcha we can find.
First, Why Does Matcha Have Caffeine?
Matcha is made from shade-grown green tea leaves (tencha), ground into a fine powder. The shading process, which happens typically 20–30 days before harvest, boosts chlorophyll and L-theanine production, which gives matcha its vivid green colour and calm, focused energy. It also concentrates caffeine. A standard serving of matcha (2g) contains roughly 60–80mg of caffeine, compared to around 95mg in a cup of coffee. But once you consume a stronger matcha of 3-4g, that is up to 176mg of caffeine, which is almost 3 shots of espresso.
Because you consume the whole leaf in powdered form (rather than steeping and discarding it), you're getting the full caffeine content and not a diluted extract like normal green tea.
So Can You Remove the Caffeine?
Technically, yes. There are a few methods used in the tea and coffee industry:
- CO₂ extraction — the gold standard. Supercritical CO₂ selectively strips caffeine while preserving flavour compounds. Used widely in specialty coffee decaffeination.
- Swiss Water Process — uses water and activated charcoal filters. Effective, but can strip delicate flavour notes.
- Solvent-based methods — ethyl acetate or methylene chloride. Less desirable for premium products.
The challenge with matcha specifically is that it's a powder, not a leaf or a bean. Decaffeinating a powder without degrading its colour, umami depth, and fine texture is extraordinarily difficult. Therefore there have been very few commercial attempts as the rate of failure is also relatively high.
What We Found
We spent several months researching whether a genuinely high-quality decaf matcha could exist, one that met our standards for colour, flavour, and from a reputable source. We spoke to suppliers all over Japan from different prefectures, reviewing processing trials, and testing their samples.
And what we found? Decaf matcha does exist. But we want to be Honest. Compared to the higher standards of ceremonial-grade matcha that we aspire to achieve, decaf matcha still sits a step below. If you're seeking the exact same taste profile and vibrant appearance as premium ceremonial-grade matcha, this product may not fully meet those expectations.
What We Are Doing About It?
However as someone who personally struggles with caffeine sensitivity, i felt that the quality of the decaf matcha was still something people could enjoy, even if it was not entirely perfect. Therefore we are not closing the door. Instead we are actively monitoring developments in CO₂ extraction applied to powdered tea, and are in ongoing dialogue with producers who are trialling small-batch decaf tencha before grinding.
The best decaf matcha are those that use supercritical carbon dioxide. This reduces the caffeine content by almost 90% to 4-8mg per gram, matching the caffeine content in decaf coffee of 3-15mg. Moreover this technology has allowed the matcha to retain nearly 100% of the functional compounds we value most: L-theanine and catechins. These are associated with stress reduction, anxiety relief, and improved sleep quality.
Why Decaf Matcha Costs More Than You'd Expect
Yes, our decaf matcha is more expensive than standard matcha. The supercritical CO₂ extraction process is labour-intensive and requires specialised equipment. The sourcing is limited because so few producers have perfected the technique. And we have chosen to work only with suppliers who prioritise quality over volume, which means smaller batches and higher costs per unit. This results in a unique product that delivers the L-theanine, catechins, and ceremonial experience of matcha without compromising your sleep or your peace of mind.
Why We're Writing This
I struggled with the same problem many of you face: I loved matcha but want to enjoy it later in the day or when i wanted to opt out of caffeine. We are actively selling our decaf matcha because we believe it deserves to exist in the world.
As we and our producers have the strong desire to perfect the technology for years to come, we will continue to be there, refining our offering and bringing you the best version possible.
That is what makes enle different.
So If caffeine sensitivity has kept you from matcha, or you have never tried matcha because you were worried about the caffeine, now you have a genuine alternative. And if you are simply curious about what premium decaf matcha tastes and feels like, we would love for you to experience it.
Next up: we visit a producer in China to learn if decaf matcha from Japan and China differs — we were shocked