matcha

noun

ˈmä-chə 

ˈma-

plural matchas

: a green powder made from ground green tea leaves that is used to make tea and other beverages and as a flavoring agent

Our meal began with matcha, the traditional green tea of the tea ceremony. The powder is spooned into a ceramic bowl, hot water added and the mixture whisked to a frothy jade.

—Alan Brown

Walk into a coffee shop or peruse Instagram and you're sure to have seen a matcha latte.

—Alysha Witwicki

also : tea made from matcha

At the time, he often experienced midafternoon malaise and began drinking hot matcha on his brother's recommendation.

—Jill Radsken

Examples of matcha in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

A Little Something Extra Shaw points out that some of the top add-ins her bakery likes to incorporate have been pistachios and matcha. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2025

Strayer's sudsy shop is a laundromat and coffee bar that mixes 64 washers and dryers with a full-service coffee menu including a ceremonial matcha, Mexican mocha and a hibiscus lemonade. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025

Max enjoys showcasing local cuisine and has a particular affinity for matcha drinks and, of course, his beloved chicken Caesar wraps. —Julie Klausner, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025

Your espresso, meanwhile, will come from the folks at Greenwich Village’s own Joe Coffee, and chai and matcha will be up for grabs from Brooklyn’s Dona. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese, from mat-, form in compounding of matsu "to rub, daub, paint" + cha "tea"

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above