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

However, Mella is urging customers to drink the highest grade matcha the traditional way: with just water. —Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025

The lemons were loaded with a yuzu meringue pie-like filling, and the chocolates were filled with a matcha cream. —Deanna Taylor, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025

Ampersand offers coffees, matchas and teas with flavors like vanilla, honey, snickerdoodle or coconut. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2025

Asking for an oat milk matcha or soy-cap was the punchline of a joke, and now, baristas don’t bat an eye. —Katie Stone, Vogue, 31 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