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We’ve all heard of the espresso martini. A kick of caffeine with just the right amount of alcohol to balance it all out, but it's 2022 and people are looking for new ways to get their buzz on. Enter the trendiest take on that old favourite – The Matchatini. Over the last decade, the popularity of this powdered green tea has skyrocketed and it can be found all over menus in many iterations, but have you ever considered putting it in a cocktail?
Best known for its health properties Matcha is unique because it’s grown in the shade to encourage chlorophyll production and induce that signature vivid green colour. The stems and veins of the tea leaves are also removed before processing which means that it can be ground down to a much finer powder than regular green tea.
Most people prefer it to the coffee boost because it comes on slower and has less of an abrupt crash as it dissipates and while it does give you a burst of energy its also full of cleansing antioxidants, specific catechins which may help prevent cell damage and even lower your risk of several chronic diseases.
Using Matcha in a cocktail can be tricky business though since the flavour is very delicate, it needs to be paired with equally delicate liqueurs in order to make it work. The Matchatini might not be to everyone’s taste since white chocolate isn’t a flavour you often see in a cocktail, but think of the creaminess of a coffee cream like Tia Maria or Kahlua and you’ll start to understand why it works. (In fact, the Tia Maria brand even released their own line of Matcha liqueur).
So are we claiming that drinking a Matchatini is good for your health? Well, maybe not, but it definitely has more potential than a regular cocktail, and it’s a whole lot more interesting. So if you’re looking to shake up an interesting evening drink this week, here’s a recipe you can try.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp Matcha powder
- 50 ml white chocolate liqueur
- 25 ml vodka
- 10 ml dry vermouth
- Ice to serve
Method:
- Add all of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well and strain into a martini glass to serve.
