Looking for a refreshing and energizing drink? Then this easy matcha lemonade is what you’re looking for. It’s sweet, tart, slightly bitter from the matcha, and refreshing in the best ways. It’s super easy to make a matcha lemonade with just a few ingredients, and it’s much easier than it sounds! All you need is matcha, lemon juice, sugar, and water, and you have yourself the perfect refreshing summer drink you can make for dinner parties, brunch, and more.

Here’s how to make matcha lemonade at home!

Matcha Lemonade Takeaways 

• Use simple syrup to sweeten this lemonade because it dissolves easily.
• Whisk matcha thoroughly to get rid of any clumps that might give you a grainy texture. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s one of the easiest, most refreshing drinks to make, and looks so fancy.
• Matcha and lemon pair great, especially in drinks.
• It’s a unique take on a classic lemonade! You’ve had green tea lemonade, and this is just that in a slightly different form.
• This recipe is easy to follow and reproduces a cafe-quality drink for a fraction of the price. 

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a powdered green tea made from shaded young tea leaves grown most famously in central Japan. It’s an earthy, fragrant, and soft powdered tea which, depending on the variety and growing environment, can take on a variety of nuanced flavors. Some powders lean more nutty, while others lean more floral. 

Since it’s the whole tea leaf, you whisk it with water for drinking or cooking to open up the flavors and prevent clumps. Traditionally, you drink it on its own during tea ceremonies, but more modern preparations involve making lattes, mixed drinks, desserts, and more! The world of matcha is so vast, and you can make hundreds of different drink combinations with just one base tea.

What is a Matcha Lemonade?

 A matcha lemonade is made with whisked matcha and a lemonade base (lemon juice, sugar, and water). It sounds simple, but surprisingly not that common in cafes. It’s an incredibly refreshing drink, especially during summer or hot weather when you want something cooling, refreshing, and energizing. You can prepare this with water or sparkling water for a fizzy version. The convenient version is to make it with premade lemonade, but I prefer the less-sweet homemade lemonade. 

Is Matcha with Lemonade Good?

To each their own, but matcha lemonade is such a yummy water-based drink. Normally, people love matcha lattes or a creamier matcha flavor, but in lemonade, the matcha is much stronger. You taste the tea without having to taste through milk, and it’s a nice light beverage you can have with meals or on its own. Also, the lemon adds a nice burst of flavor that a regular “cold brew” matcha lacks. It’s like adding a little bit of lemon juice to water to make it brighter. 

Matcha Lemonade Benefits 

Did you know that matcha is a superfood? Young, shaded tea leaves, those used to make matcha, are packed with antioxidants that have all sorts of anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and nutritional benefits. It also has L-theanine, which is a molecule that slows the rate of caffeine metabolism, so the energy you get from matcha caffeine is gradual and more sustained than that in coffee.

And we all know that lemons are a great source of vitamin C, which is important for boosting our immune systems. Although sugar isn’t great for our bodies in large quantities, having a sweet matcha lemonade once in a while is perfectly normal. You’ll get so many antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins from this simple matcha lemonade.

Matcha Lemonade Recipe: Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this matcha lemonade:

• Matcha Powder — Use whatever matcha powder you have accessible to you! I like using a medium-bodied, slightly bitter matcha to balance the lemon flavor, but something floral or umami would also work.
• Hot Water — Use water around 175 F to whisk matcha! This is slightly before boiling, so it’s hot but won’t scorch the tea. Use a temperature-controlled kettle or guesstimate it by leaving the boiled water to cool for 3 – 5 minutes. 
• Lemon Juice — You can squeeze fresh lemon juice or use bottled lemon juice for convenience. If you have lots of spare lemons, this is a great way to use them!  
• Water or Sparkling Water — I use filtered water, but you can use tap water if it’s clean where you live. You could also use bottled water or even sparkling water for a fizzy version.
• Sugar or Simple Syrup — Regular granulated sugar is classic for lemonade. However, you should make it into a simple syrup for easier mixing. No more stirring manically while waiting for the sugar to dissolve!
• Ice 
• Lemon Slice (Optional) — A thin slice of lemon is the perfect garnish. 

How to Make a Matcha Lemonade

1. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl and add hot water around 175 F. Slowly break up the powder with a matcha whisk, then gradually start whisking, getting up to a quick speed. Whisk vigorously in a zigzag motion for 20 seconds until a velvety froth forms. 
2. Assemble Drink. Add lemon juice, simple syrup or sugar, and water to a glass with ice and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the whisked matcha on top and garnish with a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon.
3. Mix and Enjoy! Serve with a straw and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Matcha Lemonade

• Add Different Flavors: If you’re feeling creative, add different flavors to the lemonade base to make flavored matcha lemonade! Fruits or herbs give you endless combinations of flavor. A popular one is strawberry or peach, with some mint, basil, or thyme. You can even use Asian flavors like yuzu, red shiso, lychee, etc. 
• Whisk Matcha Thoroughly: Not whisking matcha properly will leave clumps in your whisked tea and eventually in your lemonade. Once matcha clumps in liquid, it’s really difficult to remove. Be sure to sift your powder and whisk throughout the bowl for the smoothest tea.
• Use Simple Syrup: As mentioned, sugar is hard to dissolve in cold liquids and often remains undissolved at the bottom. However, simple syrup, which is just sugar and water reduced into a syrup, doesn’t have that problem and mixes effortlessly in drinks! 

FAQ’s

Can I use a different sweetener?

Yes! You can use honey, agave, maple syrup, brown sugar, or other forms of sugar to sweeten this matcha lemonade. A liquid sweetener works best because it dissolves effortlessly. You can also use a sugar-free alternative if you’re watching your blood sugar.

Lemon substitutes?

If you don’t have lemons, you can replace them with lime juice, yuzu juice, calamansi, or any other similar citrus. The closest alternative might be yuzu, which is less tart and more floral than lemons, but adds a nice, balanced flavor. 

Other Refreshing Drinks to Try

This matcha lemonade is super easy, simple, and delicious. It’s the perfect refreshing drink to make for summer parties or gatherings! For more delicious drinks, here are some other refreshing drink recipes to try next:

• Blueberry Yuzu Dirty Soda
• Strawberry Acai Lemonade
• Pickle Lemonade
• Matcha Soda
• Kiwi Ade