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.

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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

A street away, at "Chacho's" cafe, customers in sunglasses sip lattes and matcha tea.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

And if I have good matcha, I’ll go for that too.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

Sophie Downing only intended to buy a matcha latte when she visited her local coffee shop with a £10 gift card.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

Swiping through Tinder in Saudi Arabia, a profile of a woman in her mid-20s includes photos of her manicured hands holding flowers, a matcha latte, a tennis court and some art.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 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