Matcha Lemonade

This matcha lemonade is the ultimate cold summer drink for matcha lovers—a refreshing, sweet drink made with half matcha tea and half lemonade layered between ice cubes.

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This recipe combines the best of everything you can wish for on a hot summer day- a classical matcha tea served as iced tea and the sweet and tangy flavor of classic lemonade. You can enjoy this refreshing and boosting drink with only 3 ingredients (plus water and ice cubes).

I’m a huge matcha fan, but I like to keep my matcha drinks simple. A classic matcha latte with almond milk is my favorite, and during the warmer months, I make the iced version of that. This matcha lemonade is a new favorite, and it meets my matcha criteria: it’s simple to make and delicious.

WHAT IS MATCHA GREEN TEA?

Matcha is a powdered form of Japanese green tea. It’s more potent than regular green tea as the whole leaves are grounded into a powder.

There are many matcha options available, but it’s important to look for ceremonial grade vibrant green-colored matcha powder. Ceremonial grade matcha is made of young tea leaves.

Matcha powder in a small bowl on a white plate with lemon slices on a white backdrop with ingredients for matcha lemonade in small bowls

MATCHA LEMONADE STARBUCKS

You could be right if you think you may have heard or seen this recipe before. This is a soft copycat of the matcha lemonade from Starbucks.

The main difference is that Starbucks probably uses a regular, more artificial sweetener, and this recipe is with maple syrup. If you would like to have a Starbucks matcha lemonade copycat, then I would suggest using more sugar in this recipe. The matcha from Starbucks seems to be a sweetened matcha powder, which can also explain the sweetness.

Starbucks is also probably not freshly squeezing the lemons for their matcha lemonade, which makes a big difference.

Green colored matcha lemonade in a glass with ice cubes with a glass straw on a white plate with lemon slices and green matcha powder

INGREDIENTS MATCHA LEMONADE

Matcha powder
You will need a matcha green tea powder to make the matcha tea. High-quality matcha is pricier, but lower-grade matcha (less vibrant color) can also be an option if you like the taste. The better the matcha, the better this drink will be. I currently use this ceremonial grade matcha powder.
Lemons
Fresh lemons are best for making your lemonade. Freshly squeezed will make a big difference, and you will only need a small amount for this recipe.
Maple syrup
Any sweetener of choice will work great in this recipe, but maple syrup and matcha tea go together beautifully. So, if you have maple syrup in your kitchen cupboards, use that.
Water and ice cubes
This is a must to make the lemonade and to turn this recipe into an iced treat.

Ingredients for matcha lemonade on a white plate in several small bowls with the names next to it on a white backdrop with a bowl of ice cubes and a bamboo matcha whisk next to a small bowl with matcha powder

WHAT IS THE BEST MATCHA FOR MATCHA LEMONADE?

The world of matcha green tea powders is big. There are many brands and variations, and the price can range from $5 to $70.

While this can be discouraging, I would advise you not to feel overwhelmed. There are three things to keep in mind:
1. What is your budget?
2. What is the brightest, most vibrant matcha powder you can find within that budget?
3. And do you like the taste?

That’s all you need to keep in mind. There is no need to spend more than $70 on matcha powder if you are only going to use it once in a while for a recipe like this. A recipe where the matcha is not even enjoyed in its pure form.

HOW TO MAKE ICED MATCHA LEMONADE (step-by-step with photos)

Matcha lemonade is a beautifully layered drink where sugar and ice cubes are what keep the layers separate. The first layer is the yellow lemonade, the second layer is ice cubes, and the third and final green layer is matcha green tea. The more sugar and ice you will use, the more separation there will be between the layers.

Step 1. (layer 1)
Squeeze the fresh lemons in a small bowl and add the lemon juice to a glass. This should be the glass where you will serve the matcha lemonade in. Add water and maple syrup to the glass and stir to combine.


Step 2. (layer 2)
Add ice cubes to the glass and set aside.

Step 3. (layer 3)
Over a small bowl, sift the matcha powder. This will ensure there are no clumps in the lemonade. To the bowl, add warm water and whisk with a matcha whisk or a regular whisk. Whisk the matcha powder thoroughly with the water making Z and M motions. Again, this will prevent there are clumps in your matcha lemonade.


Step 4.
Pour the green matcha tea over the lemonade and serve.

MATCHA LEMONADE TIPS

While this recipe only requires 3 ingredients (plus water and ice cubes), it leaves room for variations.

The lemons and the sugar make this a delicious drink, but the preferred sweetness is personal. This recipe is moderately sweet, so you can still taste the tart lemonade. But you can adjust the sweetness to your liking. You can also use other natural sweeteners, such as Stevia, coconut sugar, or date syrup (this will change the drink’s color). A syrup is the easiest sweetener to dissolve in water.

If you are in a rush, you can use store-bought lemon juice or buy store-bought lemonade for your matcha lemonade.

The amount of matcha is perfect for this recipe, but if you like a milder matcha flavor, use about ½ teaspoon of matcha powder. This drink containing 1 teaspoon matcha powder contains about 180 mg of caffeine.

Matcha lemonade in a glass with ice cubes with a separate yellow and green layer with a glass straw on a white plate with lemon slices

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE

One of the main reasons this will probably be a new favorite matcha drink for you is that you will only need 3 ingredients plus water and ice cubes to make a matcha lemonade. All you need to make is a classic matcha tea and sweet lemonade.

The other reason you will love this recipe is that it’s refreshing and boosts your energy. The caffeine in matcha and the ice cubes is a delicious way to wake up the body. This iced drink is all you need this summer.

You can make the lemonade ahead and enjoy this drink any time of the day within minutes. All you need to do is make the matcha green tea and pour it over your previously made lemonade with ice cubes.

Matcha lemonade in a glass with ice cubes with a separate yellow and green layer with a hand whisking the matcha lemonade with a glass straw on a white plate with lemon slices and a bamboo stick

Looking for more cold drinks? You might like:

Let me know if you love this matcha lemonade drink as much as I do! Leave a comment and a star rating below, and tag me on Instagram @thegreencreator with your recreations.

Matcha lemonade with ice cubes with a separate yellow and green layer with a glass straw on a white plate with lemon slices and a bamboo stick with the text matcha lemonade easy recipe on the top
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A glass with yellow lemonade on the bottom and green matcha tea with ice cubes on the top with a glass straw on a white plate with lemon slices with a small bowl with green matcha tea in the background

Matcha Lemonade

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Bianca
  • Total Time: 5
  • Yield: 1 serving (about 16 oz/475 ml) 1x
  • Category: drinks
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

This matcha lemonade is a refreshing, sweet drink made with half matcha tea and half lemonade layered between ice cubes.


Ingredients

Scale

LEMON JUICE (FIRST LAYER)

  • 3 tablespoons (40 ml) fresh lemon juice (1 lemon)*
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 2 tablespoons (25 ml) maple syrup*

SECOND LAYER

  • Ice cubes, as much as needed to fill the glass

PURE MATCHA TEA (THIRD LAYER)

  • 1 teaspoon matcha powder*
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) warm water (water temperature around 70°C / 160 °F)

Instructions

LAYER 1.
Prepare fresh lemonade. Squeeze the lemonade in a (serving) glass and set aside or chill in the fridge. When ready to make your matcha lemonade add the lemon juice to the glass. This should be the glass where you will serve the matcha lemonade in. Add water and maple syrup to the glass and stir to combine.

LAYER 2.
Add ice cubes to the glass and set aside.

LAYER 3.
Over a small bowl, sift the matcha powder with a fine mesh sieve to remove any clumps. To the bowl, add warm water. The water doesn’t have to be boiling water. I like to make matcha tea with a water temperature of 70°C / 160 °F. Whisk vigorously with a matcha bamboo whisk or a regular whisk making Z and M motions. Again, this will prevent there are clumps in your matcha lemonade.

Pour the green matcha tea over the lemonade. Stir to combine.

Serve immediately.


Notes

While fresh is best, you can use store-bought lemon juice instead of freshly squeezed lemon juice. If this contains sugar, you can skip the sweetener in this recipe.

The sweetness of this drink is very personal. Add more sweetener is needed.

Any sweetener will work as an alternative here. Syrup-based sugars are the easiest to dissolve in lemon juice and water.

If you want to use granulated sugar, dissolve it in the water for this recipe in a small saucepan over medium heat; constantly stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely before using.

For a milder matcha flavor, use ½ teaspoon matcha powder.

You can make the lemonade ahead. All you need to do is make the matcha green tea and pour it over your previously made lemonade with ice cubes.

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