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

Original Price: $11.99 Sale Price: $6.87 (43% off) Buy Now on Amazon Jade Leaf Matcha Make your very own iced and hot matcha at home with this bag of Jade Leaf Matcha. —Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025

From trendy matcha’s in New York to artisan tea bars in London and functional wellness teas in Japan, consumers are rediscovering the humble leaf. —Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

Most importantly, coffee drinkers are requesting Starbucks make the sweetness in its matcha drinks customizable. —Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Jan. 2025

The franchise also offers matcha teas, lattes, iced coffee, cappuccinos and macchiatos ranging in price between $5.50 and $7.95. —Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 8 Feb. 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