Matcha Lemonade from Starbucks is among the many delicious iced tea selections offered at this iconic coffee franchise. But, despite it's popularity, many places worldwide no longer have it on their main menu.
So, you must know what to tell your local barista to order this beverage or learn how to make this at home.
Due to its refreshingly zesty taste, it has many fans. Reddit, for example, is full of people posting how to order it off Starbucks' secret menu.
But it is possible to make it at home! And the price of the ingredients is lower than the actual drink. Additionally, you can have more control over the sugar content - decrease or increase the sweetness as you please. Ultimately, you will get a delectable drink that's healthier than the store-bought version.
To find out the wonderfully simple way to enjoy this refreshing beverage at home, continue reading for our tried and tested green tea lemonade recipe.
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What is matcha lemonade made of?
Matcha lemonade is made of a Japanese matcha green tea blend, lemonade and ice.
The coffee company lists its recipe on the page with only these three ingredients. It also states that its baristas usually add three scoops of its Teavana Matcha powder.
However, Starbucks adds sugar to the pre-made powder. This addition means you will not be able to control the sweetness level. Some baristas also add syrup if you order it at the coffeehouse to have a sweeter taste.
Most homemade versions use pure matcha powder and freshly squeezed lemonade. Some people might also add honey or sugar for a sweeter brew. Therefore, often making these versions a healthier, lower-calorie alternative to the in-store original.
What does matcha lemonade taste like?
Matcha lemonade has a strong sour taste at the start, but thanks to the infused tea base, you'll get a mild earthy taste as you continue drinking.
If you add honey or sugar, you'll get a beverage that's not too overwhelming. The bitterness of the tea will neutralise and balance the sweetness of the sugar or honey.
Even with the added sugar, this drink is not as intensely sweet as the other beverages in the Starbucks line-up.
So this recipe is perfect if you're not a fan of sweet drinks or are health-conscious but still want an energetic boost.
How many calories are in matcha lemonade?
Our homemade matcha lemonade 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.
Is matcha lemonade good for you?
Matcha lemonade benefits are plenty because the beverage combines the antioxidant properties of green tea with the Vitamin C from lemons.
Matcha offers many health benefits. It's a great substitute if you need to focus but cannot drink coffee. For many people, overconsumption of coffee causes anxiety jitters. So tea is a gentler and better substitute.
Besides, green tea contains catechins, a type of natural antioxidant. Studies have shown that it slows the effects of ageing, possibly reduces heart disease risk, and reduces inflammation in your body.
At the same time, green tea maintains healthy arteries and promotes cell repair. However, it is mild and slightly bitter. So if you prefer a creamier beverage, you can try matcha milk tea instead.
Lemons contain high vitamin C, fibre, and beneficial plant compounds. These nutrients are responsible for heart health. They also help to improve digestive health, which is suitable for those who suffer from erratic bowel movements. Lemon also has health properties that reduce cancer risk and prevent kidney stones!
While the liquid form dilutes these ingredients, this is a healthier drink choice for those who want a drink option besides iced coffee!
Matcha lemonade ingredients
To make iced matcha lemonade, you need matcha powder, lemonade and ice. Here are some tips regarding our short ingredient list.
Matcha Powder
Powdered green tea is best for this recipe. Alternatively, if you prefer tea bags, you can also do so. However, for the full benefits of the tea, we recommend using the powdered version. The reason is that only tea leaves are ground in the powder to form a pure product. However, tea bags may contain added sugar and other components.
Therefore, tea bags usually contain less product concentration. On the other hand, the powdered version has a higher concentration of product as well as flavour. The powdered form also has more antioxidants, which will benefit your health.
Another reason to use matcha powder is that the flavour achieved is unpredictable with tea bags. For example, if the manufacturers add sugar, you might get a sweeter drink than you would like. In contrast, the powder gives a consistent earthy, bittersweet taste.
Similarly, you can also use the powdered form to cook, making it more versatile. But, of course, tea bags are easier to carry around. So if you do not mind a less concentrated product and prefer convenience, go for tea bags instead.
Lemonade
The difference between store-bought lemonade and a homemade version is your control over the ingredients.
The homemade version needs freshly squeezed lemons, water, and a sweetener. Some people use raw honey or corn syrup. Or you can also add pure maple sugar or coconut sugar to your green tea lemonade.
However, if you are concerned that it does not taste too much like the original and isn’t sweet enough, we have a solution for you. You can make Starbucks brown sugar syrup to add to your homemade version.
Matcha Lemonade Recipe (Quick 3 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 1½ tbsps matcha powder
- ½ cup lemon juice (sweetened)
- 1 cup cold water
- ice
Instructions
- Pour lemon juice and half of the cold water into a cocktail shaker or a container with a tight lid. Shake about 10-15 times. Pour out and add ice.
- Add the remainder of the cold water and matcha into a cocktail shaker or container. Crush the matcha powder. Then, shake for 10-15 seconds. Once done, pour the mixture into the lemonade. Now you are ready to serve your drink! Add ice for a cooler, refreshing take!
Notes
- First, you can make a syrup by stirring 2 teaspoons of honey or sugar into hot water. Then, add this syrup to the lemonade and green tea powder.
- Second, the official Starbucks recipe for matcha lemonade adds lemon oil. You can do so if you want to have a more intensely sour taste for your drink. Lemon oil comes from dried lemon skin. You can even use the oil to substitute fresh lemons. However, you will diminish the health effects of lemons since the oil is a diluted form of the fruit.
- Third, 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. It results in a more robust tea flavour, leaving bitterness behind.
- Last but not least, we like to use honey as a sweetener due to its natural fragrant sweetness. However, you can always add coconut sugar, cane sugar or any other sugar substitute to your green tea lemonade. You can also add Stevia or go sugar-free. We do not recommend adding zero sugar as the ingredients can get too overwhelming without any sweetener, but it's an option to consider!
Nutrition
Calories have been calculated using an online calculator. Nutritional information offered on Honest Food Talks is for general information purposes and are only rough estimations.
While not exactly a copycat of Starbucks, YAMASAN Co Ltd. released a video recipe of their own twist of the beverage. Call it Japanese craftiness, but we think their recipe is a great one too!
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!
- Matcha 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, the tanginess of raspberries lightens the bitter notes of the tea.
- Mojito matcha lemonade is a fun option if you are hosting parties. You can add the club soda, rum, lime, and a sprinkling of mint leaves for an energising party drink.
- To make matcha sparkling lemonade, replace water with sparkling water or club soda before adding mint leaves and lime. This is an excellent substitute for those who cannot drink alcohol and has a fresh, clean, sharp taste.
- Matcha hibiscus lemonade is a sweet and tangy drink. To create it, buy mixed tea powder with matcha and hibiscus. This vibrant drink has remained on Starbucks' official menu since 2018. But it is not so easy to find in-store. So, if you want to try this beverage, it's best to do it yourself!
If you've enjoyed this 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.
And if you've created this delectable drink, why not tag us on Instagram @honestfoodtalks? So follow us and stay connected for more food and drink recipes.
Paulina22
Bomb! Better than starbucks - save your money and try this recipe! Thank you so much for this recipe.