Can too much matcha land you in hospital?

Laura Mae, 28, from Sydney, started drinking matcha daily after giving up coffee due to Crohn’s disease. It felt like a better option – lower in acid, rich in antioxidants, and widely marketed on TikTok as clean, focused energy.

But after a few months, she landed in hospital with a severe iron deficiency and had to get an iron transfusion. She later shared her experience on TikTok with the caption “RIP to my matcha era.” The video went viral, sparking wider conversations about how something as seemingly harmless as a daily iced matcha could have unexpected health consequences.

One such case, reported by Newsweek, involved Lynn Shazeen, a 28-year-old nurse from Maryland, who was hospitalised with severe iron deficiency despite drinking matcha just once a week. Another viral post by TikTok user @emilys.beauty.room detailed her own bout of exhaustion after overindulging in the trendy green beverage.

From ritual to reel: Matcha’s cultural makeover

It’s a dissonance that feels distinctly modern. For centuries, matcha has been revered not just as a health tonic, but as a vessel of mindfulness. Introduced to Japan in the 12th century by Zen monk Eisai after a pilgrimage to China’s Song dynasty, powdered tea became integral to the Japanese tea ceremony – a ritual of stillness and intention. Ground from shade-grown tencha leaves and whisked into suspension, matcha was once reserved for monks, scholars, and tea masters. In the chaji, or formal ceremony, bowls are turned toward guests, backs are straightened, and silence is held. The aim is clarity instead of content.

But the matcha of today belongs to a different lineage. It is not hand-whisked in temples; it is frothed into tumblers at boutique cafés, poured over ice with strawberry purée, and consumed with algorithmic regularity. On TikTok, #matcha has racked up over 200 million posts. Influencers host step-by-step tutorials on making oat milk lattes with electric whisks, while food accounts showcase matcha brownies, croissants, and protein smoothies. It has transcended tradition and evolved to become visual and social currency.

The business of matcha

This cultural repositioning has had real economic consequences. According to a 2024 report by Grand View Research, the global matcha market was valued at USD 4.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 7.43 billion by 2030. In Japan, which produces over a quarter of the world’s matcha, severe heatwaves in Kyoto earlier this year have severely affected harvests. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, heritage brands like Marukyu Koyamaen and Ippodo have responded by imposing purchase limits to cope with diminished supply. Closer to home, The Straits Times noted that Singapore retailers raised matcha prices by 10 to 15 percent as early as October 2024, citing the global shortage and rising costs.

Still, demand hasn’t slowed. Matcha now holds cultural capital that cold brew once did, only cleaner, greener, and more curated. It has become a staple of the wellness aesthetic: think iced lattes in minimalist tumblers, flat-lay shots of bamboo whisks, and morning routines set to soft jazz and SPF. If coffee is tension, matcha is control.

Here’s what a nutritionist has to say

But beneath the stillness is an increasingly relevant concern: does matcha interfere with iron absorption? The short answer, according to Natalie Goh, a dietitian at Mount Elizabeth Hospital Novena, is yes – but only for certain individuals, and under certain conditions.

“Matcha contains tannins and catechins,” she explains, “which are compounds known to bind to non-heme iron that is found in plant-based foods and make it harder for the body to absorb.”

This isn’t an issue for everyone. But people who are already iron-deficient due to heavy menstruation, restricted diets, gastrointestinal disorders, or certain medications may be at higher risk. “For those with conditions like Crohn’s or coeliac disease, or people who avoid meat, drinking matcha daily, especially with meals, can compound existing deficiencies.”

The effects aren’t always obvious at first. Early signs include fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath, and brittle nails, which are symptoms that can be easily misattributed to stress or lifestyle. In some cases, users have gone months without realising the link between their daily matcha ritual and their dwindling ferritin levels.

Final words

This isn’t a call to abandon matcha. “Moderation is key,” Dr Goh says. Her advice: limit intake to one cup a day, and avoid consuming it with or directly after meals. If iron is a concern, pair meals with vitamin C-rich foods like red peppers or citrus fruits to improve absorption. And if symptoms persist, a simple blood test can confirm whether dietary changes are needed.

So it’s safe to say that matcha isn’t the problem. But unthinking consumption is. In an age where wellness trends spread faster than facts, discernment matters. Even the most harmless-seeming habits can carry risks when adopted without context or moderation.