Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Be a Matcha Matcha Man and Whip Up These 4 Matcha Cocktails

By

Walk into any hipster coffee shop in the nation now and you’re going to see matcha. It’s the stuff that looks like green cocaine, but isn’t (well, literally, at least). Matcha is, in fact, ground-up green tea. Before harvesting, these green tea leaves are shade-grown, which produces more caffeine and another compound, theanine, which are both why matcha is praised for its energy-giving abilities. When they’re finally on their way to process, the stems and veins are also removed.

More Cocktail Recipes

As with the best ingredients, matcha is versatile — it’s  great for cocktails. I mean, who doesn’t want a healthy caffeine boost when they’re drinking? Below, we’ve gathered some great matcha cocktails to tempt your palates. (As an added bonus, all four cocktails contain one of our favorite liqueurs: St-Germain.)

Recommended Videos

Don’t usually carry matcha in the house? Pick some up here.

Related: 
Upgrade your daily routine with the best smartwatches for men

Green in the Afternoon

matcha cocktails green in the afternoon
Image used with permission by copyright holder
  • 0.5 oz St-Germain elderflower liqueur
  • 0.25 oz limoncello
  • 2 dashes of absinthe
  • Pinch of matcha power
  • Sparkling wine

Method: Add to ingredients to a flute glass, top up with sparkling wine, and stir gently.

Green Blossom

matcha cocktails green blossom
Brent Hofacker/123RF Image used with permission by copyright holder
  • 0.75 oz tequila
  • 0.75 oz St-Germain
  • 0.5 oz matcha power mixed with water (1 to 1)
  • 0.5 oz cloudy apple juice
  • 0.25 oz lemon juice

Method: Shake ingredients with ice and pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a green apple slice. 

Matcha Flip

matcha cocktails matcha flip
Image used with permission by copyright holder
  • 2 oz sake
  • 1 oz St-Germain
  • 0.5 oz coconut & matcha powder syrup
  • 1 whole egg

Method: Add all the ingredients into a shaker and dry shake with no ice to emulsify the egg then add ice shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Add a pinch of matcha powder as a garnish.

(Green in the Afternoon, Green Blossom, and Matcha Flip all created by St-Germain Global Ambassador, Camille Ralph Vidal)

Goodnight Julep

matcha cocktails goodnight julep
Food Photographer/Getty Images Image used with permission by copyright holder

(Created by Nitecap, New York City)

Method: Take your julep tin and rub the mint leaves around the glass. Discard mint. Add all ingredients and swizzle with crushed ice. Top with more crushed ice and garnish with a lavish mint bouquet, matcha powder, and powdered sugar.

Editor’s Note: This article is part of The Manual’s larger Journey to Japan travel guide. Over the course of a month, our writers had the pleasure of experiencing Japan in its many forms, from high-rise bars in Tokyo to traditional tea-ceremonies in Kyoto. We hope this series of articles will not only inform, but inspire you to take your own trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.
Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

What is Matcha? A Guide to Green Tea and its Benefits
what is matcha woman s hands mixing green tea powder in a bowl overhead view

Ever wondered what’s in that gorgeous green drink you’ve seen all over the 'gram? That frothy, bright green latte, ice cream, and even doughnuts everyone is making much to do about is Matcha. This vibrant green tea has taken the main stage here in recent years, but it’s been a staple in East Asian culture for centuries, rooted in spirituality and highly regarded for its health benefits.

There are many ways to enjoy a cup of Matcha but its truest form is as simple as it is delicious. Here we’ll cover the brew's basics so you can whisk your way to a big green cup of morning bliss.

Read more
The secret to perfect summer salads? The right wine pairing
Pairing wine and salad
Barolo Grill salad.

As we substitute pants for swim trunks and IPAs for crisp refreshing lagers, it can only mean one thing: Summer is here. That transition extends to the table as well, where we opt for lighter foods like salads to greet the mild weather and take advantage of all the fresh produce available. But how do we make the very best of this kind of cuisine?

The right wine pairing, naturally. You might think any old pink or white wine will do but there's an art to the best couplings. Certain salad styles demand certain wine styles, and vice versa.

Read more
Do coffee pods expire? Here’s what the pros say
When to toss coffee pods from your pantry
coffee pods

The convenience of coffee pods is undeniable — with no dosing, scooping, or mess, coffee pods deliver a fast and easy way to get your caffeine fix without the hassle. Yet all coffee pods, from the Nespresso Vertuo pods to the standard K-Cups, contain regular ground coffee inside the casing (even though you can't see it). With that in mind, do coffee pods have an expiration date? I know I've wondered this question before, especially after pulling out bags of K-Cups from my pantry that've seemingly been there for ages. Let's break down the answers to everything you've wondered about "Do coffee pods expire?"
Do coffee pods expire?

Drew Pond, Co-Owner of Stone Creek Coffee, gives us the short answer we probably already knew: yes, coffee pods expire. "They're not Twinkies. Most are stamped with a “best by” date about 8 to 12 months out, but let’s be clear: that’s not a magic number. The flavor starts to fade way before that if you're not using the right pods or storing them correctly. Coffee is full of delicate oils, compounds, and aromatics that fade over time, especially in single-serve formats," he says.

Read more