This matcha cocktail is a riff off the typical gin fizz. A light, refreshing cocktail with an earthy matcha aftertaste! A healthy, low calorie cocktail option for the Spring or Summer with a bright green color.
A gin fizz is a fun classic cocktail of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup. It is then topped with club soda. This low calorie cocktail is perfect for those who like lighter cocktails.
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I will be honest and say I was never a huge fan of gin. The more I create cocktails, the more I realize how versatile it is! Gin is the lowest calorie alcohol out there. I don’t choose my cocktails by calories, but I do find it the lightest tasting option!
Gin is a spirit defined by and famous for botanicals. Common botanicals in gin are: juniper, coriander, lemon, orange, cardamom and licorice. Because of these botanicals, I find it to be very earthy. Well of course it would be the best match for matcha! I’m not going to say this gin fizz is the best way to drink matcha, but it for sure is at the top of my list!
What is Matcha?
Green tea is already a top superfood, and matcha is a Japanese powder made from dried green tea leaves. Matcha is a stronger version of green tea, because you toss green tea leaves after steeping. With matcha, you use the powder and thus ingest the entire leaf.
What does Matcha taste like?
Matcha has a bitter and earthy taste. It is a stronger version of green tea.
Health Benefits of Matcha
Matcha is high in antioxidants. Because you’re ingesting the leaves, your body intakes more of the antioxidants. Matcha contains a more concentrated amount of caffeine than green tea. It gives a more calming caffeination. Some say matcha has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of green tea!
How to Buy and Store Matcha
You will often find that labels for matcha say ceremonial grade or ingredient grade. Unfortunately, those labels do not help as a marker of quality. Instead look to confirm that the origin is from Japan. The color should always be a bright, almost neon green.
Whole tea leaves keep longer than powders, so it is best to store matcha powder in the refrigerator.
Step-By-Step Instructions
STEP ONE: Add lemon juice, simple syrup and gin to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
STEP TWO: Shake for 15-second and then strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
STEP THREE: Top with club soda.
STEP FOUR: Stir and enjoy!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- GIN. Because of the earthy botanicals in gin, it makes the best match for this matcha gin fizz. If you’re not a gin fan, vodka would be the best substitute.
- MATCHA. I used vanilla matcha which adds a bit more sweetness.
- LEMON JUICE. Lemon juice is needed to balance out the bitterness of the matcha and to add tartness.
- SIMPLE SYRUP. Simple syrup is a must for this cocktail to balance out the bitterness of matcha. I used a darker simple syrup made of kola nut and sugar cane in this cocktail creating an even darker green color. Any basic simple syrup will be great, or substitute for straight honey or maple syrup.
- CLUB SODA. Top this cocktail off with club soda to add lightness.
Does this drink taste like matcha?
There is a slight aftertaste of matcha. The simple syrup balances out the bitterness of the matcha. The lemon juice helps balance the bitter and adds a tartness.
Make it a Mocktail
There are two options to making this matcha gin fizz non-alcoholic.
OPTION ONE: Use a non-alcoholic gin or vodka substitute.
OPTION TWO: Skip the alcoholic substitute and add more club soda.
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📖 Recipe
Matcha Gin Fizz
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 2 OZ Gin
- ½ OZ Simple Syrup
- ½ Lemon juiced
- ½ TSP Matcha
- 4 OZ Club Soda
Instructions
- Add gin, simple syrup, lemon juice and matcha to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake for 15-seconds.
- Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
- Top with club soda and then stir.