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

New restaurants that opened in January Wings, Latin American flavors, bánh mì and matcha are among new spots to try. —Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 4 Feb. 2026

Starbucks adds new matcha drinks Two new specialty matcha drinks have also been added to Starbucks' year-round menu. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Feb. 2026

Starbucks adds new matcha drinks Two new specialty matcha drinks have also been added to Starbucks' year-round menu. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026

Shōgun does serve cocktails like a matcha paloma and sake sangria, but Secreto has its own drink menu that is purely Latin-inspired. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026

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