Did you know you can enjoy a fresh matcha drink without milk? Matcha doesn’t have to be only lattes and is delicious in a refreshing homemade soda, juice, or spritz. This Shirley Temple matcha soda is a twist on the famous Sprite drink with an earthy twist.

Cherry and matcha go so well together (like this cherry vanilla matcha), and it’s exceptional in a sparkling drink. You can make this with just 4 ingredients and in less than 5 minutes.

Here’s how to make a Shirley Temple matcha latte at home!

What is a Shirley Temple?

A Shirley Temple is a non-caffeinated soda drink made from a lemon-lime soda or ginger ale, grenadine, and a maraschino cherry on top.

It’s known to be a kid’s drink and a very popular mocktail due to its vibrant color and cute cherry on top. It was one of my favorite drinks growing up and still is (but just a little too sweet for me now).

Why is it called a Shirley Temple? The origins of the Shirley Temple come from the famous actress herself! Temple went out with her parents to a restaurant where they enjoyed some old-fashioned cocktails, making young Shirley want a cool drink herself. Since she was just a child, the restaurant bartender whipped up this cool cherry soda and it spread like wildfire.

What are Shirley Temples Made of?

Traditional Shirley Temples have ginger ale or lemon-lime soda (or a mix of both), ice, grenadine syrup, and a maraschino cherry on top. Grenadine is a pomegranate syrup and it’s commonly added to many cocktails like the Tequila Sunrise, Gin Daisy, Pink Lady, etc.

This concoction gives Shirley Temples that iconic flavor: slightly tart and very sweet, but deliciously addicting. The pomegranate flavor works nicely with the citrus or ginger soda, although the main “flavor” is sugar.

I personally prefer ginger ale in my Shirley Temples, but you can’t go wrong with either soda. You can also make a Dirty Shirley, which is just a spiked version of the soda.

Are Shirley Temples Caffeine-Free?

Since this soda is for kids, it is caffeine-free! However, just because it’s caffeine-free doesn’t mean it won’t give you energy!

Any soda has lots of sugar in it, but Shirley Temple’s has additional sugar from the grenadine syrup and maraschino cherry, so you definitely will get a sugar high and crash.

Why Add Matcha to a Shirley Temple?

This is a great drink to make if you want to enjoy matcha in a lighter, refreshing form.

Sometimes, matcha lattes can be quite heavy, and also seems like it’s the only matcha drink available! Matcha is an incredibly versatile tea you can enjoy with or without milk in a variety of ways, like this Shirley Temple matcha soda!

It’s honestly one of the most energizing drinks and will make you feel refreshed in the afternoon heat. It’s also easy to make at home, plus you can customize it to your tastes.

What Does a Shirley Temple Matcha Soda Taste Like?

Adding matcha to homemade Shirley Temple’s gives it a totally new flavor.

It’s earthy and slightly bitter, which works really nicely with a sweet, fizzy base. This is especially refreshing in the summer or when it’s sweltering outside and you need a cool, refreshing, and energizing drink.

The matcha helps balance the sweet notes of this drink and also blends nicely with the more tart flavors. Matcha goes well with fruity flavors since they complement each other well.

Why Use Sparkling Water?

If Shirley Temples sounds like they have a lot of sugar, it’s because it does.

To make a healthier, less sugary version of a Shirley Temple, you can use sparkling water or club soda instead of regular soda. I personally like this method so it’s much less sweet but you can still enjoy a variation of it!

With sparkling water, you can add however much grenadine you want and also a splash of lemon juice for a fresher flavor. You can even use lime or lemon-flavored sparkling water for the same effect.

Do I Need Grenadine?

If you don’t have grenadine, you can substitute it with either pomegranate juice or any other berry-flavored syrup like strawberry or raspberry. Raspberry syrup probably tastes the most similar to pomegranate because it’s both sour and sweet like pomegranates. Plus, the color is very similar.

You can also use plain simple syrup as well, but your drink won’t have that signature tart flavor or red color. It still makes a refreshing matcha spritz, though!

How to Whisk Matcha

Before you add your matcha to your soda, you need to whisk it. Matcha green tea is different than most teas because it’s a powdered green tea so you consume the whole leaf in liquid form. Since the particles are very, very small, you whisk matcha in water before adding it to any drink!

To whisk matcha, you should use a matcha tea bowl and whisk, and whisk in a zigzag motion until frothy. This is a very simplified version of whisking, so you can check out my tutorial on how to make matcha here!

You can also make matcha without a whisk using either a handheld frother, electric frother, regular whisk, shaker cup or jar, or blender. As long as you mix the matcha powder and water well, any method works.

How to Make a Shirley Temple Matcha Soda

Here’s what you’ll need to make a Shirley Temple matcha soda at home:

• 1 tbsp grenadine
• 2 maraschino cherries
• 1.5 tsp matcha tea powder
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup sparkling water
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Shirley Temple Matcha Soda Recipe

1. Whisk Matcha. Add matcha tea powder and water to a shallow bowl, and using a bamboo whisk, whisk in a zigzag motion drawing an “M” shape in your bowl. Whisk vigorously until a froth forms on your matcha and stop whisking when you have a velvety microfoam.
2. Assemble Drink. Add ice, grenadine, lemon juice, and sparkling water to a glass, then top with your whisked matcha.
3. Mix and Enjoy!

Other Refreshing Matcha Recipes

Looking for other refreshing matcha recipes to try? Here are some ideas to inspire your next matcha creation:

• Matcha coconut water (Must Try!)
• Coconut matcha cloud
• Matcha americano
• Matcha soda
• Iced matcha peach tea
• Matcha lychee refresher
• Matcha fruit juice

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a delicious Shirley Temple matcha soda at home:

• Use Different Syrups: Experimenting with different flavors? You can easily substitute grenadine for any other fruit syrup you prefer, like cherry syrup, strawberry syrup, blueberry syrup, etc.
• Use Fruit Juice: Have fruit juice on hand? Use that instead of flavored syrup for a fresher, more natural taste. It’s best if you use pomegranate juice as the most similar substitute for grenadine.
• Pour Whisked Matcha Slowly: When you pour your matcha slowly onto an ice cube in your drink, it creates a nice waterfall effect that is so mesmerizing to watch. If you add enough sweetener, you might even create a layered look.