Heavy metals in matcha: what the tests really reveal

Heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, occur naturally in soil. Any plant grown in open ground absorbs some of these metals—including tea, vegetables, grains, coffee, and cocoa. Traces of these metals are therefore found in nearly all teas, and matcha is no exception. No matcha has zero levels, and that would be impossible anyway.

What matters, therefore, is not their presence, but their level, and the ability to measure it accurately.

Where do the heavy metals in matcha come from?

Heavy metals are neither additives nor treatment agents: they are a natural part of the environment. Found naturally in rocks and soil, they are absorbed by plant roots as the plants grow.

The tea plant follows the same pattern as spinach, rice, and cocoa, which are among the crops most affected. This is a characteristic of field cultivation, not something unique to matcha.

Why matcha deserves a closer look

Matcha has a unique feature: it isn’t brewed; instead, you consume the whole leaf, which has been ground into a powder. This means that everything found in the leaf is also present in the matcha you drink. If you'd like to learn more about matcha, its health benefits, and how to choose the right one, you can also check out our comprehensive guide to matcha. 

That’s what makes laboratory analysis far more meaningful than a logo on the packaging: it measures what the finished product actually contains.

What really matters is the dose

What determines exposure to a heavy metal is not its concentration in a food, but the actual amount consumed.

However, matcha is typically consumed in very small quantities—about 2 grams of powder per bowl. A few comparisons can help put these quantities into perspective.

Regarding mercury: our matcha contains less than 0.01 µg per bowl. A piece of tuna sushi contains about 4.5 µg, which is the equivalent of nearly 500 bowls. A can of tuna is the equivalent of 2,600 bowls of matcha.

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty: our matcha contains about 0.19 µg per bowl. A serving of a few squares of dark chocolate (about 30 g) contains roughly 30 times that amount.

Our results

Our matcha is tested by Eurofins Dr. Specht, a world-renowned laboratory specializing in tea. Here are the results for heavy metals (test conducted on April 21, 2026; 2025 harvest sold in 2026).

Independent, open-access analyses

Our matcha is tested by an independent laboratory, and we publish the results with full transparency. You can view the full test results here.

In our view, this is the only real solution to the issue of heavy metals: measurable and accessible data, rather than a label on the packaging.

How to Choose a High-Quality Matcha

Before making a purchase, there are a few simple questions you can ask to evaluate a brand. See if it can clearly tell you:

• Where does matcha come from, and who produces it?
• if it is subject to independent analysis,
• if these analyses do indeed focus on heavy metals,
• if the results are recent and available.

A reputable brand should be able to answer these questions. If the answer is vague, it often says a lot about the rest.

Conclusion

Heavy metals come from the soil: they are found in all foods grown in open fields, including matcha. What sets a product apart, therefore, is not the impossible-to-achieve absence of these metals, but the actual measured level, the exposure this represents when calculated per serving, and the brand’s transparency regarding its testing results.

FAQ

Does matcha contain heavy metals?

Yes, just like all foods derived from plants grown in open fields. Heavy metals are naturally present in the soil and absorbed by plants. No matcha is completely free of them. What matters is the level of contamination and the brand’s transparency.

How much lead is there in matcha?

It depends on the matcha, but the key is to consider actual exposure. Matcha is typically consumed at a rate of about 2 grams per bowl. As a point of reference, a bowl of our matcha contains about 0.19 µg of lead, while a serving of dark chocolate contains about thirty times that amount.

Is matcha more risky than other teas?

Matcha is unique in that the entire leaf is consumed in powder form, rather than simply as an infusion. This is why laboratory analysis is particularly useful for it. However, the levels measured remain comparable to—or even lower than—those found in other teas.

How can I tell what’s really in my matcha?

Ask the brand for its recent, publicly available lab test results conducted by an independent organization. If the brand is vague or unable to provide them, that’s a red flag.

 

Sources

Lead in tea — FSA / Fera, “Analyses of lead levels in tea” (FS102115, 2015): 51 teas, ranging from 0.125 to 2.56 mg/kg. https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/analysis-of-lead-levels-in-tea_0.pdf

Mercury and Fish — ANSES, “Methylmercury: A Health Risk Associated with High Fish Consumption.” https://www.anses.fr/fr/content/methylmercure-un-risque-pour-la-sante-en-cas-de-consommation-importante-de-poissons

Tolerable weekly intake of methylmercury (1.3 µg/kg body weight) — EFSA, Scientific Opinion on Mercury and Methylmercury in Food (2012). https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2985

Cadmium, limit for leafy vegetables (0.20 mg/kg) — Regulation (EU) 2023/915. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/915/oj

Mercury in tea, limit 0.02 mg/kg — Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2005/396/oj

Nickel, content in cocoa powder (~10.7 mg/kg on average) — Food Safety, Luxembourg (nickel fact sheet). https://securite-alimentaire.public.lu/dam-assets/fr/publications/fiches/F-190-nickel.pdf