Why we’re writing this

We care deeply about transparency and helping you feel confident in what you’re drinking.

This page is here to walk you through how we test our matcha, what our results show, and how to understand them in a clear, grounded way.

The truth about matcha and heavy metals

Here’s the part that matters most: Matcha is not heavy metal free.

Matcha is made from finely ground green tea leaves. Because you’re consuming the whole leaf, you’re also consuming anything the plant absorbed from the soil, including trace amounts of naturally occurring heavy metals.

This is true for:

• Tea
• Leafy greens
• Root vegetables
• Many plant-based foods

So the question isn’t: “Is it present?”

The real question is: “How much are you actually consuming?”

Why units matter (ppm vs ppb vs daily intake)

This is where things can get confusing.

There are two ways people talk about heavy metals:

1. Concentration (ppb)
This tells you how much is in the dry product.

2. Daily exposure (µg per serving)
This tells you how much your body is actually exposed to based on how much you consume.

These are not the same thing.

Most regulatory frameworks, including California Prop 65, evaluate safety based on daily exposure, not just concentration in the raw ingredient.

What our testing shows

Our matcha is regularly third-party tested. Here are results from a recent COA (converted to ppb for clarity):

• Arsenic: 16 ppb (0.016 ppm)
• Cadmium: 12 ppb (0.012 ppm)
• Mercury: 5 ppb (0.005 ppm)
• Lead: 52 ppb (0.052 ppm)

View the reports here:

• Premium 
• First Whisk
• Hojicha

What that means in real life:

A typical serving of matcha is about 2 grams. We recommend closer to 1g, but are using 2g here for transparency since it’s a common serving size.

At that serving size, estimated daily exposure is:

• Arsenic: 0.032 µg
• Cadmium: 0.024 µg
• Mercury: 0.010 µg
• Lead: 0.104 µg

For context, California Prop 65 sets a lead limit of 0.5 µg per day for reproductive toxicity.

That means a standard serving falls well below that threshold. Even at a stronger serving (4g), exposure would still remain below that limit.

Why you may be seeing different claims online

Some sources online use much stricter proposed limits for children and babies, measured as total concentration (ppb), not daily intake.

These proposed limits:

• Were designed specifically for children
• Were not passed into law
• Do not account for serving size

When adult products are compared to these standards, it can make many foods, including tea, look unsafe without full context.

How this compares to everyday foods

Trace amounts of heavy metals are naturally present across many foods due to soil and environmental conditions.

For example, commonly consumed foods may contain:

• Leafy greens (like spinach): cadmium and lead in similar or sometimes higher ranges
• Root vegetables (like carrots and potatoes): levels generally in a similar range
• Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables: typically in a similar range
• Dark chocolate: often higher in lead and cadmium
• Rice: significantly higher in arsenic

At typical serving sizes, matcha falls within the range of many everyday plant-based foods for most elements.

What matters most is overall daily exposure across your diet, not any one single food.

What we stand by

• We will always test our products
• We will always share what we find
• We will correct mistakes when they happen
• We will continue improving
• And we will always provide context, not fear

Our commitment to you

We are:

• Continuing to run updated third-party testing
• Working to share results more clearly and consistently
• Exploring sourcing options that may reduce heavy metal levels further

Final thoughts

If you’ve felt confused by this conversation, you’re not alone. It’s nuanced, and it’s easy for information to be shared without full context.

We’re here to give you the full picture so you can make informed decisions that feel right for you.

If you ever have questions, we’re always open to them.

— Samm
 Founder, Matcha Nude

FAQs

Does matcha contain heavy metals?
Yes, like many plant-based foods, matcha can contain trace amounts of naturally occurring heavy metals from soil.

Is matcha safe to drink daily?
Based on standard serving sizes, matcha can fall within established safety guidelines such as California Prop 65 daily exposure limits.

Why does matcha contain heavy metals?
Matcha is made from ground tea leaves, which absorb minerals from the soil during growth.