Strawberry Matchatini

THE BEST COCKTAIL RECIPE TO TAKE YOUR MATCHA FROM DAY TO NIGHT

The first official weekend of summer deserves a cocktail that feels like a celebration—bright, fun, and extremely delicious. Whether you’re hosting a backyard dinner party or just treating yourself to something fun on a Saturday afternoon (as I often find myself doing), this Strawberry Matchatini is exactly the way to kickstart your summer on the right note. It helps that it is chic, so count me in for any girls' night where matchatinis and lots of yapping are on the menu.

If you’re a certified matcha girlie like me, matcha makes for such a beautiful morning ritual. I have always had the idea of getting dressed in looks you can take from day to night, and I love that this is a similar concept: in a drink form. :)

This Strawberry Matchatini is a super smooth, vodka-forward sipper that balances those earthy notes of matcha we love with sweet strawberry jam and a touch of white crème de cacao (truly the MVP in this one) for a silky finish.

Strawberry matcha everything has been everywhere lately—on menus, on my social media feed, and it was time to make it into a cocktail. I love how the jam gives you concentrated 'fresh' berry flavor without the need for muddling/blending any strawberries. Enjoy this one, and please tag me if you make it!

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INGREDIENTS

• 2 oz brewed matcha (1 tsp matcha + 2 oz of hot water, whisked and cooled)

• 1 oz vodka

• ½ oz white crème de cacao

• ½ oz strawberry jam (*if chunky, stir it to loosen before adding it into the shaker)

• Dehydrated strawberry or fresh strawberry on a cocktail pick, optional for garnish

  
  

DIRECTIONS 

1. Brew the matcha by whisking 1 tsp matcha with 2 oz (1/4 cup) of warm water until nice and frothy. Let it cool.

2. In a shaker, add your cooled matcha, vodka, crème de cacao, and strawberry jam to a shaker with ice.

3. Shake well, then double-strain into a chilled coupe glass. Double straining removes any bits of jam or matcha clumps, giving you that clean, smooth finish so be sure to not skip this step.

4. Garnish with a dehydrated or fresh strawberry slice on a cocktail pick and serve immediately!

   
   

~ Serves 1

Notes

• When it comes to the topic of matcha itself, quality really matters. I always get questions about my favorite products, and I use the Aoarashi matcha from Marukyu Koyamaen, a premium grade that delivers depth without ANY bitterness. Bless. You want something bold enough to stand up to the other ingredients, but smooth enough to sip. Pro tip: always whisk your matcha with hot (not boiling!) water and let it cool before shaking— it’ll make all the difference in the final cocktail.

• I have also gotten a lot of questions about crème de cacao. White crème de cacao is a lightly sweet chocolate liqueur. I love it in this recipe because it adds a creamy note without overpowering the matcha. You can skip it if you can't get your hands on it, but the cocktail won’t have the same balance or creaminess. White chocolate syrup will also do in a pinch, but I'd start with no more than 1/4 oz as it is very sweet.

• To batch for a get-together, make the matcha and mix it with the vodka and crème de cacao. Throw it in the fridge and when you’re ready to serve, shake individual servings with jam and ice for best results.