You know that green powder your health-conscious friend swears by? It’s migrating from morning lattes to evening cocktails, and bartenders across America are obsessing over its potential. Matcha’s transition from ceremonial tea to craft cocktail ingredient represents more than just another trendy flavor—it’s reshaping how younger drinkers think about functional beverages after dark.
Bartenders Lead the Green Revolution
Japanese-inspired venues and mainstream bars alike embrace matcha’s complex flavor profile.
Takuma Watanabe, the Tokyo native behind New York’s Martiny’s, was an early adopter of matcha cocktails when he opened in 2022 with his Tea Ceremony—an Old Fashioned variation that whisks matcha with coconut water, Japanese whisky, and cacao. The drink channels traditional Japanese confectionery sweetness while delivering the earthy complexity that makes matcha compelling in cocktails.
The trend extends far beyond Japanese-focused bars. Denver’s Yacht Club features the Nothing in Between, a sophisticated highball starting with mineral-forward Chablis and incorporating matcha syrup, sotol, and shochu. Beverage director McLain Hedges explains matcha’s versatility: “There are a number of ways to let matcha be the star of the show and shine in all of its glory, but there’s also a way to use it as part of the building blocks of a drink.”
Chicago’s Queen Mary offers the Matcho Man, a Mojito-inspired creation, while Washington D.C.’s Service Bar serves both the Green Machine highball and a nonalcoholic matcha yuzu slushie.
- Martiny’s Tea Ceremony combines Japanese whisky, matcha, and cacao for wagashi-inspired sweetness
- Queen Mary’s Matcho Man reimagines the classic Mojito with earthy green tea notes
- Ready-to-drink options include On the Rocks’ Yuzu Matcha Martini and Social Hour’s canned Cucumber Matcha Mojito
The Instagram Effect Meets Functional Benefits
Vibrant visuals and sustained energy appeal to health-conscious younger drinkers.
Matcha’s appeal transcends flavor. The vibrant green color creates what bartenders describe as a “sizzling fajita effect”—visually striking drinks that draw attention. Black Rock Coffee Bar’s chief marketing officer Jessica Wegener-Beyer notes that matcha’s visual qualities make drinks “pop on social media” and attract curious customers. That emerald hue draws attention like a neon sign in an otherwise brown-and-amber cocktail landscape.
The wellness angle resonates particularly with Gen Z and millennial consumers, who comprise two-thirds of matcha drinkers at chains like Peet’s Coffee. Unlike coffee’s jittery rush, matcha delivers sustained energy without the crash, positioning these cocktails as indulgent yet functional choices for health-conscious drinkers seeking Instagram-worthy experiences.
Despite explosive growth—matcha latte mentions increased 71% year-over-year—a global matcha shortage is creating supply constraints. Fortunately, cocktail programs remain relatively insulated due to their modest usage compared to coffee shops. As bartenders continue experimenting with matcha’s umami richness and visual impact, expect this green ingredient to cement its place in America’s cocktail culture from coast to coast.
