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

This whimsical coffee is sweetened with a peppermint syrup, topped with non-dairy matcha cold foam, and finished off with a dusting of candy sprinkles. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2024

Got it — the classic three-way combination of coffee flavor, peppermint flavor, and matcha flavor. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

Sawada noted that the vibrant, juicy flavor of the Koyo Berries, reminiscent of strawberries in Japan, pairs perfectly with the shop’s earthy, herbal matcha. —Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 15 Oct. 2024

The milk from Iwase Farm, in Sunagawa, is now also making the journey to Indigo Cow’s new shop in Echo Park, where the soft serve can also come tinged with matcha and topped with mochi balls, warm roasted sweet potatoes, roasted soybean powder, brown-sugar syrup and more. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024

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