We keep getting asked: “Has your matcha been tested for contaminants?” Good question - you don’t drink matcha as an infusion; you consume the whole leaf as a powder. So whatever is in the plant ends up in your cup. That’s why we had our matcha tested by an independent lab. Here are the results, value by value.
Who tested it - and what?
Testing was carried out by SGS Institut Fresenius, an accredited food laboratory in Germany. Various composite samples from our three Organic matcha varieties were examined: Fuwa, Misora and Akari.
Two things were tested:
- Pesticides: a multi-method screening (DIN EN 15662) that detects several hundred crop protection agents at the same time.
- Heavy metals and metals: lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and copper (DIN EN 15763).
The results
- Pesticides: no measurable residues - all active substances tested were below the quantification limit.
- Mercury: not measurable (below 0.010 mg/kg)
- Arsenic: not measurable (below 0.04 mg/kg)
- Lead: 0.082 mg/kg
- Cadmium: 0.015 mg/kg
- Copper: 8.22 mg/kg
Quantification limit means the smallest amount the lab can reliably measure using its method. So “not measurable” means the value is below that limit.
What does this mean in practice?
Pesticides: No measurable residues were found for any of the active substances tested. That’s exactly what we expect from Organic matcha - and now we have the results in black and white.
Mercury and arsenic: Both were below the quantification limit, meaning they could not be measured.
Lead and cadmium: These metals occur naturally in soil, and plants absorb trace amounts. That’s why they’re found in very small amounts in many plant-based foods. In one serving of matcha (2 g), that works out to around 0.16 micrograms of lead and 0.03 micrograms of cadmium - just millionths of a gram.
Copper: Copper is a trace element that occurs naturally in tea leaves.
Do you have questions about the results? Feel free to email us anytime at hello@yagomatcha.ch.
And if you want to see for yourself: Find our Organic Matcha here. 🍵
