Green tea and matcha aren’t just for ceramic tea mugs anymore. Bartenders across the nation have been using green tea and matcha in their trendy recipes, and it’s been a great success. Here are a few trendy and tasty cocktail recipes for any bartender to wow their friends and guests – all these recipes use matcha powder and prepared green tea.

1. Vodka and Green Tea Cooler

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add 1 1/2 parts vodka, 1 1/2 parts green tea, 1/2 part pomegranate juice, 1/2 part simple syrup, and 1 twist lemon. Stir. Garnish with a lemon wedge. Add flavored vodka such as Smirnoff pomegranate or passion fruit for a more unique flavor.

2. Green Tea Martini

Fill a shaker with ice and 1 1/2 parts apple juice, 1 1/2 parts Bison Grass Flavored Vodka, 1/3 parts green mint liqueur, 1/3 green banana syrup, and 1/3 parts Pisang Ambon. Shake and strain into a cool cocktail glass.

3. Almond Green Iced Tea

Fill a highball glass with ice cubes. Add 4 parts green tea, 1/2 lemon juice, and 1/2 part Orgeat Almond Syrup. Stir and garnish with a lemon wedge.

4. Matcha Highball

Combine 2 ounces of Japanese whiskey, 1/2 ounce of lemon juice, 1/2 ounce of honey syrup, and 1/4 teaspoon of matcha green tea powder in a cocktail shaker. Shake thoroughly, and pour into a cool and ice-filled collins glass  Pour 4 ounces of cold club soda into the shaker and swirl to loosen the leftover matcha powder. Pour into the glass and stir. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

5. Matcha and Gin

Add 1/2 teaspoon of matcha powder, 1 ounce of lemon juice, 2 ounces of gin, 4 teaspoons of simple syrup, and a dash of bitters. Add ice and shake. Strain into a cold glass.

6. Green Tea Cosmo

In an ice filled shaker, add 2 ounces green tea, 1 ounce vodka, 1/2 ounce orange liqueur, 1/2 ounce lime juice, and 1/2 ounce of cranberry juice cocktail. Shake and then strain into a cold martini glass. Garnish with a lime peel.

7. Green Tea and Cucumber Martini

Muddle a 2 inch piece of cucumber and a piece of fresh ginger with a dash of salt and a dash of simple syrup. Add 2 ounces of citrus flavored vodka (Belvedere or Smirnoff), 3/4 ounce of green tea, and two basil leaves. Strain into a cold martini glass and garnish with a cucumber slice.

8. Green Tea Vodka Spritzer

Add 2 ice cubes, 2 limes worth of lime juice, 1 ounce vodka, 2 ounces of green tea, and a splash of Canada Dry ginger ale. Stir and garnish with a slice of lime.

9. Green Tea Apple Cocktail

Rim a cocktail glass with sugar and fill with ice. Pour 1 ounce of vodka, 1/2 cup of apple cider, and fill the remainder of the glass with green tea. Garnish with an apple slice.

10. Habanero Green Tea Shooters

Combine 1/2 cup vodka and 1/2 teaspoon chili habanero pepper in a small bowl. Let sit for 20 minutes. Strain out the pepper. Pour tablespoon of vodka mixture into 10 cold shotglasses and add one watermelon or honeydew melon ball to each glass. Pour 1 tablespoon of Lipton Sparkling Green Tea (use berry or strawberry kiwi for a variety)into each. Garnish with cilantro sprig and serve.

Above is part of a chapter from the author’s recent book: Green Tea Cha : How Japan and the World Enjoy Green Tea in the 21st Century.  In the book, you find 11 more cocktail recipes, smoothie recipes and more. You can also visit my blog to learn more about Japanese Green Tea.

Images courtesy of Kei Nishida.