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

Best brew: There's all kinds of matcha varieties at KIWA, like the banana matcha latte and the miso white chocolate matcha latte, but plain matcha is also available for $5.80. —Molly Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 29 July 2025

Before TikTok therapists, matcha influencers and corporate breathwork retreats, there was Miraval. —David Hochman, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025

For Weight Loss Both matcha and coffee can support weight loss. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 3 July 2025

More patrons gathered at the front counter to order drinks, like brown sugar oat lattes, milk tea with coffee jelly, strawberry matcha and frozen marble taro smoothies. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 11 June 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