Starbucks uses a culinary-grade matcha powder sourced from Japan, specifically from AJINOMOTO® (also known as Takasago), a global food company. This matcha powder is finely ground from young, shade-grown green tea leaves intended for culinary and beverage use

. Historically, Starbucks used a sweetened matcha blend that contained a significant amount of sugar as the first ingredient, making the powder roughly half sugar and half matcha, which affected the flavor and nutritional profile of their matcha drinks

. However, as of early 2025, Starbucks has upgraded their matcha powder to be unsweetened and made from 100% green tea powder without added sugar or vanilla flavoring

. This change means the current Starbucks matcha is a pure green tea powder, aligning more closely with traditional matcha standards, though it remains a culinary-grade matcha rather than the higher ceremonial grade. In summary:

• Pre-2025: Starbucks used a sweetened matcha powder blend with sugar as the main ingredient

• Since early 2025: Starbucks switched to an unsweetened, pure culinary-grade matcha powder sourced from Japan, without added sugar

This shift improves the authenticity and health profile of Starbucks matcha beverages.