Matcha nausea??!!

[Tead Off]

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's because I have had matcha on an empty stomach before, but my few experiences with matcha have left me with a horrible stomach ache and very nauseous. I was wondering if anyone else other than me has experienced this before? Are there incorrect ways to make matcha that could contribute to someone feeling nauseous?

The 1st 2 times I tried matcha I got nauseous. Both times were without food. I've never experienced this after those 2 times. Matcha is usually drunk with something sweet. This counters the effect on the stomach. Many Chinese medicine people think green teas are particularly difficult on the stomach and advise to drink oolongs and particularly Puerh. Coffee is the same. Long term effects of coffee drinking have taken a toll on many stomachs this is why it is common even for western doctors to advise not drinking it, or, doing it in moderation. Listen to your body, it is more intelligent than your mind!

[TwoPynts]

I definitely think it is a combination of factors, but it looks like it occurs mostly with a strong, high-tannin tea on an empty stomach. My first experience with Matcha was a OD, I mixed in way too much powerd and it was on an empty stomach (and after drinking other tea). I was nauseated and tweeked for hours. I always have something to eat before I drink it now and use less -- much better.

[Tea4Todd]

Tea will increase acid production which is why it's said to be a good digestive aid. If you want to drink tea in the morning but don't want to eat a meal just take a little protein with it like a few bites of yogurt or some cheese...it'll act as a buffer.

Good advice, I wonder if it'll work with matcha too, not that I ever drink matcha, but I would like to try again.

[Tea4Todd]

i have this problem with most teas...sencha is actually one of the worst for me...i just make sure to eat something with or before i drink tea. I did have matcha with no food once and was ok even i have issues drinking most other teas on an empty stomach

Hmm, interesting that it's not just me that has had this problem. I've had sencha at most of the Japanese restaurants here, and it's almost always with sushi or some sort of food, so I've never noticed other green tea stomach issues. Only matcha, maybe I should give matcha another shot, and eat some food with it.

[Tea4Todd]

The 1st 2 times I tried matcha I got nauseous. Both times were without food. I've never experienced this after those 2 times. Matcha is usually drunk with something sweet. This counters the effect on the stomach. Many Chinese medicine people think green teas are particularly difficult on the stomach and advise to drink oolongs and particularly Puerh. Coffee is the same. Long term effects of coffee drinking have taken a toll on many stomachs this is why it is common even for western doctors to advise not drinking it, or, doing it in moderation. Listen to your body, it is more intelligent than your mind!

Oolong is my favorite and I've not had a problem with that except for the day when I think I just brewed it way too strong. I still have no experience with Pu-Er maybe I'll try some. I have some left over from when I lived in Oregon.

[Tea4Todd]

I definitely think it is a combination of factors, but it looks like it occurs mostly with a strong, high-tannin tea on an empty stomach. My first experience with Matcha was a OD, I mixed in way too much powerd and it was on an empty stomach (and after drinking other tea). I was nauseated and tweeked for hours. I always have something to eat before I drink it now and use less -- much better.

That's what I did, I think it was just a really bad matcha:water ratio. I really didn't like the nauseated feeling.

[Kunkali]

I'm thinking...maybe eating actual tea leaves isn't as natural for our bodies as drinking the liqueur from the tea leaves. Just because a few health related sites say it's better than drinking just the liquid doesn't mean it's true.

[Tea4Todd]

I agree Kun, although, I do like chocolate with tea leaves mixed in. I think that the tea leaves may perhaps be a bit too harsh for our stomachs to digest properly.

[AdamMY]

I think that the tea leaves may perhaps be a bit too harsh for our stomachs to digest properly.

I think you need to define the set "our." As for quite some time the only way tea was made was rather like matcha, though quite possibly tasted a lot worse, or at least drastically different due to roasting, grinding, then adding to boiling water, with perhaps other stuff.

Not to mention the fact that its quite common to have food prepared with tea leaves, or after a good session of gyokuro to have someone make a gyokuro salad so to speak or include the spend Gyo leaves in with other food.

I am sure it would not have become such a popular thing to do if too many people noticed a great deal of negative consequences.

[Tea4Todd]

I think you need to define the set "our."

Maybe it's just my stomach then :/

I do know that in Japan they eat a lot of food with tea leaves...Ochazuke for instance..maybe I am just sensitive to the tea leaves.

[entropyembrace]

And here I find matcha easier on my stomach than most other teas.

[Tea4Todd]

And here I find matcha easier on my stomach than most other teas.

Maybe I just had a bad experience, it was a few years ago. Perhaps it wasn't prepared properly? Who knows, all I know is that it did not suit my stomach well at all.

[tortoise]

And here I find matcha easier on my stomach than most other teas.

Maybe I just had a bad experience, it was a few years ago. Perhaps it wasn't prepared properly? Who knows, all I know is that it did not suit my stomach well at all.

This has happened to me a few times. It's almost always related to empty stomach, first thing in the morning. Some mornings my stomach is more sensitive than others and I'm not sure why. I will say that, in my opinion, matcha is awful to drink if you have a hangover .

[suzriordan]

I first tried Matcha with steamed soy milk at the health food store and loved it. But then I bought some and drank it (probably too strong) first thing in the morning on an empty and got seriously nauseous--on two different occasions.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one having had this experience!

[solitude]

As many of you mentioned the drinking of tea on empty stomach causes problems. I had the same experience. My first green tea was sencha and I used to drink it at the morning on empty stomach in order to "kick off" my metabolism, however the result was nausea and stomach ache later even gallbladder problems. Since this experience, I drink tea always after meal, even at the evening.