抹

to rub away, erase; to paint

Kanji 1836

Find out everything you've wanted to know about matcha (powdered green tea) but were afraid to ask! See who first produced it and when, its role in the tea ceremony, and how matcha differs from a similar tea given for free at restaurants. Discover what people blend matcha with, from salt to beer! Also learn how 抹 relates to incense, whales, erasure, brushstrokes, and Denmark!

Revision history:

Jan. 26, 2020: 

• p. 2: Etymology Box: Replaced the old Henshall etymology with the new one.
• p. 11: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

May 8, 2015: p. 1: The sign in the photo says 焼いも, but I had referred to it in my caption as 焼きいも. I've now fixed the mistake and added that people write this word with or without that hiragana.

Sept. 12, 2014: Originally published.