Isabella Wilson, 19, from Bolton, developed what she describes as a "matcha addiction" that led her to consume up to four cups a day and spend £2,000 in one year. The habit caused severe daily migraines, nausea, vomiting, acne and weight gain before she finally cut back.
Wilson first tried the fashionable drink in 2024, and it quickly became her go-to beverage. Purchasing a couple of matchas a week soon spiralled into drinking up to four a day, with a daily caffeine intake of up to 400mg — the equivalent of five Redbulls. She even worked as a matcha barista, getting free drinks on shift.
Struggling to concentrate
Wilson said she would sometimes struggle to concentrate as matcha was constantly on her mind. She resorted to ordering discounted bags of matcha powder from a dubious seller on Vinted to guarantee a supply at home. "I wasted an unbelievable amount of money. I actually found my own supplier," she said.
Her year-long habit left her suffering severe daily migraines, nausea, vomiting and acne, and she piled on two stone. In January, she cut back to two cups a week — and noticed her symptoms easing within just a few days.
Health warnings
Which? data recently revealed that high-street matchas contain more caffeine than an espresso. Experts have cautioned that excessive caffeine consumption can trigger anxiety and headaches, while matcha also hampers the body's ability to absorb iron due to its polyphenols.
Wilson said: "I remember I tried my friend's matcha and thought, 'it's not that bad' - so I started having a few a week. Suddenly, it was multiple matchas a day. I even ended up working in a coffee shop making matcha drinks, and I got free drinks on shift - so I was drinking matcha working there all day, and then drinking more when I got home. It got to the point it was quite scary - it occupied my thoughts completely."
Turning point
She added: "I'd be thinking about having my next matcha while I already had one in my hand. But the headaches - sometimes all I could do was sit in a dark room, and I was being sick once a week, and I'm hardly ever sick normally. It clicked when I saw a video about someone being hospitalised from matcha. I thought it was just a sickness bug and migraines."
Wilson first sampled the beverage in summer 2024. Her consumption escalated when additional outlets near her home started stocking it — including a Starbucks and Greggs just five minutes away. She started purchasing £10 matcha bags from Tesco and attempted to manage expenses by setting up a specific matcha money pot on her bank account.
Recovery
She landed a job at a local coffee shop after being hired on the spot following a conversation with the manager about their matcha selection. Wilson would drink her matchas with oat milk and sugar-laden white chocolate syrup, and soon began noticing worsening acne and weight gain.
From January this year, she started linking the matcha to her troubling symptoms. After watching a video that confirmed her suspicions, she had cut back to just two cups a week by March. Within weeks, her skin started to clear up, the headaches and brain fog disappeared, the nausea eased and she began to shed weight.
Wilson said: "I know addiction is a strong term to use, but it was a truly unbelievable experience. You can't really believe it unless you've been through it, I would feel dizzy, and matcha would be on my mind all the time." Although she never quit cold turkey, she now only indulges occasionally. "People really don't talk about it enough, they think this is a magical drink that will fix them. It's this cutesy, clean girl drink that tastes nice, and a lot of people don't even know it comes with health factors," she said.
