Matcha lemonade tastes sour, sweet and mildly earthy from the infused tea base. If you add honey or sugar, you'll get a sweet and refreshing beverage that's not too overwhelming.
Even with the added sugar, this drink isn't as intensely sweet as the other beverages in the Starbucks line-up. So our green tea lemonade recipe is perfect if you're not a fan of sweet drinks or are health-conscious but still want an energetic boost.
It's cheaper to make at home, and you'll have more control over the sugar content, making it healthier than store-bought.
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Matcha Lemonade Ingredients
To make iced matcha lemonade, you need green tea powder, lemonade and ice.
Starbucks lists its original recipe with the same three ingredients. It also states that its baristas usually add three scoops of its Teavana Matcha powder. However, Starbucks adds sugar to its pre-made powder, and baristas often add more syrup for a sweeter taste. So, if you want your drink to be sweeter, you can use a sweetened powder instead.
Matcha Powder
Using green tea powder is best for our recipe. Unlike our other green tea drink recipes, which use ceremonial grade, we recommend using culinary grade green tea powder here. This is because the sharp acidity of the lemon makes it difficult to savour the nuanced umami of ceremonial-grade green tea powder. So for a cheaper and equally delicious option, go for culinary grade.
Alternatively, for convenience, you can use 2 tea bags. However, tea bags usually have a lower concentration of green tea, and the flavours aren't as strong. In contrast, powder will give you a consistent earthy, bittersweet taste.
Lemonade
The difference between store-bought lemonade and a homemade version is your control over the ingredients.
If you want a homemade version, you'll need 1 freshly squeezed lemon, 200ml water, and 1-2 tablespoon of honey or a sweetener of your choice. Avoid using strong-flavoured syrups like Starbucks brown sugar syrup.
Matcha Lemonade Recipe (Quick 3 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoon matcha powder
- 1 lemon
- 200 ml cold water
- 1-3 tablespoon honey
- ice optional
Cooking Instructions
- Cut the lemon and squeeze out the juice. If you want to add honey, dissolve it in a little bit of warm water before mixing it with the lemon juice.
- Then, pour the sweetened lemon juice, half of the cold water and some ice into a cocktail shaker or a container with a tight lid. Shake about 10-15 seconds or until well mixed. Pour out and add the ice, too.
- Add the remainder of the cold water and green tea powder into a cocktail shaker or container. Then, shake for 10-15 seconds or until the powder is well mixed.
- Once done, pour the matcha into the lemonade. Now, you are ready to serve your drink.
Recipe Notes
- We like using 2 teaspoon of matcha powder for a stronger green tea taste that results in a bittersweet drink. But if you prefer a lighter earthy taste, just use 1 teaspoon of green tea powder.
- For the sweetener, make sure to use one that can easily dissolve in cold liquids such as syrups. If you're using honey, you may want to dissolve it in a bit of warm water before mixing it with the lemon juice.
- You can also use tea bags if you have them on hand. A tip is to leave the tea bags steeped in cold water overnight. This will give you a stronger, more robust tea flavour, leaving the bitterness behind.
Nutrition
Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimate.
Matcha Lemonade Variations
Now that you have learnt how to make matcha lemonade, you can experiment with variations. By adding additional ingredients, you can concoct a light and refreshing beverage. Here are some fun versions to try.
- Homemade green tea lemonade with raspberry is a delicious drink. Besides, since the tea pairs well with sweet fruit, it is a good idea to use raspberries or blueberries. In addition, raspberries' tanginess lightens the tea's bitter notes.
- Mojito matcha lemonade is a fun option if you are hosting parties. Add club soda, rum, lime, and a sprinkling of mint leaves for an energising party drink.
- To make an earthy sparkling lemonade, replace the water in our recipe with sparkling water or club soda before adding mint leaves and lime. It's a great non-alcoholic version with a sharp yet fresh taste.
- Matcha hibiscus lemonade is a sweet and tangy drink. To create it, you brew hibiscus green tea and add it to your mix. The tea base is a lot lighter but adds a lovely floral taste.
Is Matcha Lemonade Good For You?
Our homemade matcha lemonade combines the antioxidant properties of green tea and Vitamin C from lemons. So we do think it's healthy if you don't add too much sweetener.
Our green tea recipe has an average of about 90 calories and 17 grams of sugar in 450ml. Comparatively, the Starbucks version has 120 calories and 27 grams of sugar in the same amount.
However, it is mildly sour and sweet. So, if you prefer a creamier beverage, try matcha milk tea instead.
If you've enjoyed our recipe, you might also want to try recreating Starbucks boba for yourself. It's an easy drink you can make for your party guests or quench your thirst on a hot day. Subscribe to us on YouTube for more easy matcha recipes.
Paulina22
Bomb! Better than starbucks - save your money and try this recipe! Thank you so much for this recipe.