Consumer test finds organic matcha safer

Austria’s consumer group VKI said on May 19 that a lab test of 14 matcha powders found organic products generally carried lower contamination levels than conventional ones. The testing was carried out with Arbeiterkammer Steiermark and covered products bought online and in supermarkets, drugstores, Asia shops and tea specialty stores. (vki.at) The powders were analyzed for contaminants including aluminum, lead and pesticides. VKI said nine products were rated “very good,” two “good,” two “average” and one “less satisfactory.” (ots.at) ### Who ran the test, and what exactly was examined? VKI said it examined only pure matcha powders with no added ingredients and products labeled as “matcha” on the packaging. (vki.at) The group said the samples were sent to a laboratory for contaminant testing and that labeling was also reviewed. oe24, which reported the findings on May 19, said the consumer test covered 14 named powders. The products named by oe24 were Billa Bio, Matcha Demmers Teehaus, Bio Japan Matcha Daily Dennree, Matcha dmBio, Matcha Tee Health Bar, Matcha Traditional Kissa, Basic Matcha Tea Powder Lebepur, Matcha Müllers Teestube, Japanischer Bio-Matcha NaturaleBio, Matcha Shizuoka, Matcha Sonnentor, Matcha Stick & Lembke, Matcha Sweet Tea, Matcha Powder Tian Hu Shan and Matcha Tea. (vki.at) ### What did VKI say about organic versus conventional matcha? VKI said 11 of the 14 tested products came from organic production and three were conventional. (vki.at) The group said the organic powders were, overall, less contaminated with the heavy metals aluminum and lead. VKI nutrition scientist Teresa Bauer said tea plants can absorb heavy metals from soil and water and store them in the leaves. She added that lead and aluminum have adverse health effects and said there is no harmless intake level for lead. Salzburg24, citing the VKI test, said the result was clear enough that consumers choosing organic products were “on the safe side.” That outlet also said the weaker-performing products were held back mainly by contaminant levels. (oe24.at) ### Why does contamination matter more with matcha than with regular green tea? VKI said matcha is consumed differently from conventional green tea because the powder is drunk whole rather than steeped and strained. Teresa Bauer said that means contaminants present in the powder can enter the body to a greater extent. (vki.at) The group’s advice was not to consume matcha in excess and, if choosing it, to prefer organic products. Salzburg24 said VKI recommended a maximum intake of three grams of matcha powder per day, or roughly 1 to 1.5 teaspoons. The outlet also said matcha is unsuitable for children because it contains caffeine. (salzburg24.at) ### What did the test find on pesticides? VKI said organic matcha powders showed either no pesticide residues or only low traces, which it said could come from drift from nearby conventional tea fields. By contrast, VKI said all conventional products contained pesticides, including substances not approved in the European Union. (vki.at) One product, identified by VKI as “Sweet Tea Matcha Powder,” exceeded the permitted maximum residue level for a pesticide, the group said. VKI said the remaining samples with detected residues were below legal limits. (salzburg24.at) ### Where can readers check the full results? VKI said the full details of the test are available on its matcha2026 page. oe24’s May 19 report carried the topline findings and the list of products included in the comparison. (ots.at) (vki.at)