This colorful, layered matcha lemonade is a fun twist on the classic half tea, half lemonade drink. It uses 4 ingredients and only takes 2 minutes to make!

Matcha Lemonade

This recipe is inspired by an Arnold Palmer, the classic half tea, half lemonade drink. Instead of black tea, pre-sweetened matcha is used in this layered drink. Matcha is a Japanese green tea that’s been finely ground into a powder.

I like how matcha’s vegetal, slightly bitter flavor is balanced out with the sweet and tart lemonade. The two ingredients layer beautifully so it’s a pretty beverage to serve at warm weather parties.

Recipe Summary

• Matcha lemonade is a caffeinated iced drink made with matcha, water, lemonade, and ice.
• A cocktail shaker is used to make the matcha, so you don’t need a whisk or other traditional matcha tools.
• Both the matcha and lemonade are sweetened, so there’s no need for additional sugar.
• This recipe is for a 16 ounce (2 cups) serving.

RELATED: Iced Matcha

Ingredient Notes

• Matcha: Sweetened matcha is used to make this drink, but you can also use unsweetened matcha.
• Lemonade: Use your favorite lemonade. I love Trader Joe’s lemonade that’s sold in the refrigerated section.
• Water: For the best tasting drink, always use filtered water.
• Ice: Make ice with filtered water if possible.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Recipe Notes

Use pre-sweetened or unsweetened matcha.

This recipe is made with a pre-sweetened matcha but you can swap out the sweetened matcha with 1 ½ teaspoon of regular matcha, which is unsweetened. 

If you’re a seasoned matcha drinker, you may prefer using regular matcha (unsweetened) since you’re familiar with the taste. If you’re new to matcha, the pre-sweetened matcha would be a better choice, to ease you into the vegetal, slightly bitter taste.

To make pretty layers, start with the lemonade.

The key to making a layered drink is the order of ingredients. The sweetest ingredient should always go in first, followed by what’s less sweet. In this recipe, that means the lemonade, then the matcha.

The more of a difference in sugar levels, the more distinct the layers will be. If you use regular, unsweetened matcha, the separation of the layer will be even more pronounced.

No cocktail shaker? Use a jar.

If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, any jar with a tight-fitting lid will work as long as it’s big enough to hold the matcha and water. A wide-mouth water bottle or container with an air-tight lid will also work.

Expert Tips

• The more expensive the matcha, the more green your matcha layer will be. If your matcha layer is more brown than green, it’s because the matcha is low quality.
• This recipe uses store-bought lemonade, but you can make your own. If you decide to use less sugar, the layers may not be as separated.
• Place thinly sliced lemons to the cup make the drink extra pretty. Line them inside the cup first, then add the ice. The lemonade can be poured in next followed by the matcha.

Related

• Iced Matcha Latte
• Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte Copycat
• Matcha Dalgona Coffee
• Matcha Milkshake
• Iced Pineapple Matcha
• Matcha Smoothie

Want to save this recipe to Pinterest for later? Pin it now to your Pinterest board!