This refreshing matcha soda is the drink of the summer and combines earthy matcha, fizzy sparkling water, and a light sweetener. Together, they give you an incredibly light and thirst-quenching seltzer that is energizing and easy to make! Make this on days when you want extra energy and a light beverage.

Here’s how to make a refreshing matcha soda at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s super easy and takes less than 5 minutes!
• Crisp, refreshing, fizzy, and delicious.
• A light and refreshing matcha recipe to try!
• Matcha ice cubes are an amazing hack for iced matcha.

What is Matcha Soda?

It’s matcha-flavored soda! Or more accurately, carbonated water and whisked matcha together. It’s a sometimes sweet, fizzy, and earthy drink that’s incredibly refreshing. It’s a popular, refreshing beverage in Japan, and you can find it in various forms, including cans, bottles, and instant powder.

If you buy it from the store, it’s usually sweetened, but you can find unsweetened sparkling versions as well.

My version includes matcha ice cubes, which help keep your matcha soda strong and flavorful as it sits!

What Does Matcha Soda Taste Like?

Matcha soda tastes like a crisp, matcha tea with bubbles and a light sweetness. It’s more bitter and earthy than a matcha latte since there’s no milk to wash it away, but it tastes nice when combined with the umaminess, which really comes through. It’s super refreshing on a hot day, and it kind of reminds me of a grassy gin and tonic. 

You can have it sweetened or unsweetened; both are refreshing! The sweetened version tastes like matcha candy! For extra fun, add different flavors like lemon, lavender, vanilla, etc. 

Is Matcha Soda Healthy?

Like most drinks, matcha soda is unhealthy when you add a ton of sugar to it. Any drink with 20-30 grams of sugar per serving cannot be good for you. However, if you add a minimal amount of sugar, then it’s pretty good for you! Matcha itself is a popular antioxidant-rich tea with a healthy boost of caffeine, which won’t leave you jittery.

Soda water is also very low in calories and just as hydrating as regular water. So, together, they make a great combination perfect for when you want to replenish electrolytes and enjoy a nice, healthy caffeine boost. 

How to Add Matcha

I’m sure you’ve had a matcha drink with grainy or clumpy matcha—it’s not the greatest experience! The solution is whisking matcha properly, with a bamboo whisk.

The whisk helps break up any clumps while dispersing the matcha powder in water thoroughly, which makes it easier to mix into other liquids like water or milk. Many times, you’ll get clumpy matcha from cafes, either using an electric whisk or not whisking the matcha enough or well.

To whisk matcha, you’ll want to sift the matcha into a matcha bowl, then add room temperature or hot water. Then, whisk the matcha in a zigzag motion with the bamboo whisk until a foam forms. The foam should resemble espresso cream: tight, small bubbles close together with a velvety finish. Then, your matcha is ready to use! 

Note: You can also use an electric frother to whisk matcha, just make sure it breaks up all clumps. You can strain it once to ensure the clumps are all gone. 

Which Carbonated Water to Use?

For the longest time, I thought soda water, tonic water, and sparkling water were the same thing. And technically, they are all some form of carbonated water, but there are slight differences between the three. Here’s the difference:

• Sparkling water (seltzer): unflavored carbonated water with no added minerals or flavors
• Club soda: unflavored carbonated water with added minerals and sometimes salt
• Tonic water: carbonated water with quinine and sugar added
• Sparkling mineral water: unflavored carbonated mineral water

Honestly, any carbonated water works for this matcha soda, but I do think tonic water will impart a slightly more bitter taste. So, if you want to avoid that, using sparkling water or club soda would be best! I generally use sparkling water for all my drinks so that the added flavors or ingredients shine best, but use whatever you have available to you!

How to Sweeten Matcha Soda

Soda isn’t soda without sugar (haha). Honestly, you don’t need to add sugar if you want an unsweetened matcha sparkling water that’s refreshing and fizzy. But personally, I like to add a little sweetener for some extra flavor.

You can either add the sweetener separately or make a matcha simple syrup that mimics how traditional sodas are made. The classic way is to use regular white or cane sugar, which you can add dry or make into a simple syrup with sugar and water. But honestly, any sugar or sweetener works, as long as you dissolve it thoroughly into your drink.

You can make it as sweet as you’d like. If you’re unsure, add a little bit of sugar at a time, tasting as you go. 

How to Make Matcha Soda

Ingredients:

• 1½ tsp matcha tea powder
• 2-3 tsp sugar or sweetener
• 1 cup sparkling water or club soda
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup ice

Matcha Soda Recipe

1. Sift ½ tsp matcha in a bowl and add ¼ cup water, whisk until the powder is thoroughly dispersed. Add 3/4 cup water and gently whisk until combined. Pour the matcha water into an ice cube tray, filling up enough to make minimum one cup of matcha ice. Freeze for 2-3 hours or overnight.
2. Repeat the matcha whisking step using just ¼ cup of water, then whisk for 20-30 seconds until a foam forms. 
3. Add matcha ice, sweetener, and whisked matcha to a glass, then top with sparkling water. 
4. Mix and enjoy!

Matcha Soda Variations

The great thing about this recipe is that you can customize it to your tastes! Get creative, and add your favorite flavor or herb. My favorite customization is adding a sprig of mint and adding a little lemon or lime juice for a matcha lemon spritz. You can also add a fruit juice like lychee or watermelon for a yummy fruit matcha spritz as well. 

Some other sweeteners to try include honey, agave, or maple syrup for a different flavor. But there are so many different fruit combinations you can try with matcha, and they’ll all taste great! You can even try using a yogurt drink like Yakult and carbonated water for a fizzy, matcha, yogurt drink. The possibilities are truly endless.

Other Refreshing Matcha Recipes

This matcha soda recipe is super refreshing and energizing, perfect for hot summer days when you need an energy boost and want something cooling. The matcha is the perfect pick me up and it’s also a nice, sweet, fizzy treat! If you want more refreshing matcha recipes, try these next:

• Matcha Shirley Temple
• Matcha coconut water
• Coconut matcha cloud
• Iced matchacano 
• Watermelon matcha
• Lychee matcha fizz

Tips:

• Make Big Ice: For a drink that will stay cool longer, you can make large ice cubes that will melt more slowly than smaller cubes. You can use a cocktail ice cube mold for big spheres or cubes, or a cylindrical water bottle ice mold. This is especially nice for when it’s hot outside and you want your drink to last longer.
• Make Matcha Syrup: Instead of whisking matcha, you can make a matcha syrup that doubles as a sweetener. Make your simple syrup and add matcha powder to it, whisking until the mixture is thoroughly combined. This way, you can batch the syrup and make matcha sodas on the spot for a large group or party.
• Make Fresh: If you’re whisking matcha and want it to taste the best, make the matcha just before drinking it for the best flavor. You can premake it if desired, but it won’t taste as fresh once you let it sit. Carbonated water also loses its potency once opened, so it’s best to use it right before drinking.