抹茶(まっちゃ)

まっちゃ
noun
matcha, powdered green tea
food
1. matcha, powdered green tea
Finely ground powder made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves. Used in the traditional tea ceremony and widely as a flavoring in sweets and drinks.
抹茶(まっちゃ)を点(た)てる。
To prepare matcha.
抹茶(まっちゃ)アイスが一番(いちばん)好(す)きだ。
Matcha ice cream is my favorite.
京都(きょうと)のカフェで本格的(ほんかくてき)な抹茶(まっちゃ)を味(あじ)わうことができる。
You can enjoy authentic matcha at cafes in Kyoto.

Writing

抹(まつ) (rub/grind) + 茶(ちゃ) (tea). Literally "ground tea."

Tea ceremony

In 茶道(さどう) (the tea ceremony), 抹茶(まっちゃ) is whisked with hot water using a 茶筅(ちゃせん) (bamboo whisk). The verb for preparing matcha is 点(た)てる, not 入(い)れる (which is used for ordinary tea).

There are two main styles:

  • 薄茶(うすちゃ): thin tea (lighter, more common)
  • 濃茶(こいちゃ): thick tea (richer, more formal)

Modern usage

抹茶(まっちゃ) has become hugely popular as a flavor in modern Japan and globally. Common products include 抹茶(まっちゃ)ラテ (matcha latte), 抹茶(まっちゃ)アイス (matcha ice cream), and 抹茶(まっちゃ)ケーキ (matcha cake).

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 緑茶(りょくちゃ) (green tea (general))
Related: 玉露(ぎょくろ) (gyokuro (shade-grown))
Compare: 茶筅(ちゃせん) (tea whisk (for matcha))
Related: 粉茶(こなちゃ) (powdered tea)
general
Added 2026.2.8 13:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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