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

Groundwork has a matcha, Le Pain Quotidien has a matcha and Cookbook has a matcha. —Karla Marie Sanford, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025

It’s made with Suntory’s Haku Vodka as the core component, which is distilled from 100 percent Japanese white rice, along with yuzu and matcha liqueurs. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2025

Limit your matcha consumption to two cups of matcha tea per day. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2025

Combining matcha with protein powder is a powerful pairing. —Morgan Pearson, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 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