Is The Starbucks Matcha Latte Actually Good For You?

Oh, Starbucks matcha lattes. For a lot of people, they are the ultimate way to treat yourself. They’re delicious, warm, and super healthy… aren’t they? Starbucks touts its matcha latte as a purifying immune-booster, but are they telling the truth? Keep reading to find out whether or not a Starbucks matcha latte a actually good for you.

Let’s first look at the ingredients. Starbucks lists 3 ingredients for its matcha latte. Those ingredients are milk, ice, and their own matcha blend. So, how could a latte with just 3 simple ingredients be bad for you?

It’s all in the matcha blend.

Starbucks uses a blend that is made up of ground Japanese green tea and sugar. Yes, pure sugar. Which means that literally half of their “purifying immune-booster” is unfortunately made up of sugar.

A grande latte made with 2% milk is 240 calories, 60 of which are from fat. There are 7 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated, 34 carbs, 12 grams of protein, and – wait for it – 32 grams of sugar.

And that’s just a grande! If you are looking to really treat yourself and go for a venti, you are looking at a whopping 45 grams of sugar. So if you have ever wondered why your caffeine cutback left you feeling a little too jittery, you can thank all of the sugar that is in the matcha blend Starbucks uses.

While swapping in almond milk will save you about 10 grams of sugar, there is no denying that the Starbucks matcha latte just isn’t healthy.

So, what’s a matcha lover to do? Make your own! There are plenty of matcha powders out there for you to choose from that don’t contain all of that added sugar. Safe yourself the sugar crash – and the money! – and brew yourself a cup at home. Plus, then you can treat yourself every single day!

What do you think about the Starbucks matcha latte? Let us know in the comments below!

featured image source: weheartit.com