Matcha Yuzu Recipe

Recipe at a Glance

One serving, 10 minutes total.

What You Need

- 1 tsp (2g) ceremonial or premium grade matcha - 2 oz (60ml) hot water at 175F (80C) - 1 oz (30ml) yuzu juice (bottled yuzu juice is widely available at Asian grocery stores and online) - 1 tbsp honey or simple syrup - 6 oz (180ml) cold water or sparkling water - Ice

About yuzu: Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit with a flavor between lemon, grapefruit, and mandarin orange. It is tart, floral, and aromatic. Bottled yuzu juice is the most accessible form outside Japan.

How to Make It

1. Sift 1 tsp (2g) matcha into a small bowl. 2. Add 2 oz of 175F water and whisk vigorously in a W motion for 20 to 30 seconds until frothy. 3. Let the matcha cool for 3 to 5 minutes. 4. In a glass, combine yuzu juice and honey. Stir until honey dissolves. 5. Fill the glass with ice. 6. Add cold or sparkling water. 7. Pour the cooled matcha over the top. 8. Stir gently before drinking.

Variations

Matcha yuzu latte: Replace water with steamed oat milk for a creamy version.

Matcha yuzu sparkling: Use sparkling water for a fizzy, refreshing drink.

Matcha yuzu honey: Increase honey to 2 tbsp for a sweeter, more dessert-like drink.

Hot matcha yuzu: Combine whisked matcha with hot water and yuzu juice for a warming winter drink. Reduce yuzu to 1/2 oz as the flavor intensifies when hot.

Where to Find Yuzu

Bottled yuzu juice is available at Japanese grocery stores (Mitsuwa, H Mart), specialty food stores, and online. Look for 100% yuzu juice with no added sugar. Yuzu kosho (a yuzu and chili paste) can be thinned with water as a substitute but adds heat. Meyer lemon juice is the closest Western substitute -- use 3/4 oz and add a small amount of grapefruit juice.