抹茶

Matcha (抹茶) combines matsu (抹, 'to rub/grind') + cha (茶, 'tea'). Ground tea. The technique of grinding tea leaves into powder originated in Song Dynasty China, where it was called mòchá.

When the practice died out in China, it survived in Japan, where Zen monks used powdered tea to stay awake during meditation. The tea ceremony (chadō) elevated matcha from drink to spiritual practice.

For centuries, matcha was Japan's ceremonial secret. In the 2010s, it exploded globally — matcha lattes, matcha ice cream, matcha kit-kats. The ceremonial tea became a flavor.

The word traveled: Chinese mòchá → Japanese matcha → global 'matcha.' Each transfer added meaning: medicine → meditation → ceremony → lifestyle brand.