Matcha
Tea associated with the Japanese tea ceremony.
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A matcha guide
Begin with the tea
Use matcha powder for a bowl of tea; a sweetened latte mix is a different starting point. Follow the tea producer’s quantities and water-temperature directions.
Prepare your bowl and whisk
The traditional tools include a chawan bowl and a bamboo chasen whisk. Whisk the powder with water, taking time to break up any clumps.
Taste before adapting
Notice the tea’s aroma, texture and finish on its own. Then decide whether you want a plain bowl, a latte or a recipe that uses matcha as an ingredient.
History & tradition
Matcha’s story is closely tied to Japan’s tea ceremony. Tea culture took on a distinctive Japanese aesthetic during the Muromachi period, and by the sixteenth century tea drinking had spread through society. Sen no Rikyu helped shape the ceremony’s lasting philosophy.
Also from Japan
Sources & credits
Photo: Matcha by Evanhoever · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to fit.
The introductory description and documented history are adapted from the sources below. Community-source adaptations retain CC BY-SA 4.0; wording may be shortened. The practical guide is general guidance, not a tested recipe.
- Japanese cuisine ↗ · Wikipedia contributors · checked 2026-09-09
- Japanese Tea Ceremony ↗ · Japan National Tourism Organization · checked 2026-09-09