matcha

American  

[mah-chuh] / ˈmɑ tʃə /

noun

1. a finely ground powder made from small green tea leaves that have been steamed briefly, then dried, used to make tea and as a flavoring in desserts.

2. tea made by mixing this powder with hot water, traditionally used in the Japanese tea ceremony.

---

Etymology

Origin of matcha

< Japanese < matsu “to rub” + cha “tea” (< Chinese chá )

Explanation

Matcha is green tea that's been ground to a very fine powder. Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies involve making, serving, and drinking matcha. The Japanese roots of matcha are matsu, "to rub," and cha, "tea." The drink's history in Japan goes back to a 12th century Zen Buddhist monk who brought green tea seeds home from China and started "the way of tea," the ceremony that involves whisking powdered matcha into hot water. Today matcha's distinctive grassy flavor can also be found in frothy milk drinks, baked goods, and ice cream.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

matcha

The Aero warms the water and incorporates the matcha, leaving you with a frothy base to serve on its own or mix with milk, lemonade, peach nectar or even espresso.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

"This has all started from Manchester," Ruwaydah explains during our coffee - hers is a vanilla mascarpone matcha - in Deansgate.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

Axel Touzet, head of Nestle’s coffee business, said matcha presents an opportunity for the company’s coffee repertoire—though the green powder is a tea-based product.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

The owner of the Nescafe and Nespresso brands has attempted to move into the matcha segment over the years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

It is not the full tea ceremony that she has performed on several occasions over the years, but as Tsukiko slowly prepares two bowls of green matcha, it is beautiful and calming nonetheless.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern