抹茶是用天然石磨碾磨成微粉状的、覆盖的、蒸青的绿茶。

抹茶起源于中国的隋朝，在唐朝、宋朝达到顶峰，特别在宋朝，已经有了完整的寺院抹茶茶道（点茶）。至今已有一千多年的历史。明朝以来，中国开始流行用茶叶泡汤弃渣的喝法，点茶便告失传，传统茶磨也随之绝迹。九世纪末（日本的平安中期）抹茶随日本遣唐使进入日本，点茶被日本人民所接受并推崇，发展成为今天的日本茶道。

Matcha(抹茶, pronounced [mat.tɕa]) is finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea. It is special in two aspects of farming and processing: The green tea plants for matcha are shade-grown for about three weeks before harvest, and the stems and veins are removed in processing.