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

To prepare it, dissolve two teaspoons of matcha in ¼ cup cold water, then pour the mixture over two scoops of vanilla ice cream. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 12 May 2026

Replacing a former Ike’s Lair sandwich spot, Nosh Corner opened about a month ago and serves up signature and custom sandwiches, smoothies, matcha drinks, slushies and more. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 8 May 2026

However, Chen said her business is still grappling with breathtaking price hikes on everything from packaging to key ingredients like Japanese matcha. —Matt Egan, CNN Money, 7 May 2026

Vietnamese phin coffees — topped with sea salt, egg or pandan creams — are the centerpiece of the menu, but matchas, teas, standard lattes and cookies are all available, too. —Aviva Bechky, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 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