Matcha Martini Recipe

Recipe at a Glance

One cocktail, 10 minutes total (including cooling time for matcha).

What You Need

- 1 tsp (2g) ceremonial or premium grade matcha - 1 oz (30ml) hot water at 175F (80C) - 2 oz (60ml) vodka (or gin for a botanical variation) - 1 oz (30ml) simple syrup - 1/2 oz (15ml) fresh lime juice - Ice for shaking - Garnish: matcha powder dusting, lime twist, or edible flower

How to Make It

1. Sift 1 tsp (2g) matcha into a small bowl. 2. Add 1 oz of 175F water and whisk vigorously until frothy and smooth. 3. Let the matcha cool completely to room temperature (about 5 minutes). Do not add warm matcha to the shaker -- it will melt the ice and dilute the cocktail. 4. Chill a martini glass in the freezer for 5 minutes. 5. Combine cooled matcha, vodka, simple syrup, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. 6. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. 7. Double-strain into the chilled martini glass. 8. Garnish with a light dusting of matcha powder through a fine mesh sifter.

Variations

Matcha gin martini: Replace vodka with gin. The botanical notes of gin pair beautifully with matcha's earthy flavor.

Matcha espresso martini: Replace lime juice with 1 oz cold brew coffee concentrate for a matcha-coffee hybrid.

Matcha sake martini: Replace vodka with 2 oz sake for a Japanese-inspired version.

Matcha lychee martini: Add 1 oz lychee liqueur and reduce simple syrup to 1/2 oz.

Frozen matcha martini: Blend all ingredients with 1 cup ice for a slushy version.

Tips for the Best Result

Cool the matcha completely before shaking. Warm matcha melts ice faster and dilutes the cocktail.

Use ceremonial grade matcha. The martini is a showcase for matcha flavor -- quality matters.

Shake hard. Vigorous shaking chills the cocktail quickly and creates a light foam on top from the matcha.

Double-strain for a clean presentation. Use both the cocktail shaker strainer and a fine mesh strainer to remove any matcha particles.