A matcha mint julep is simple to make with just 5 ingredients – matcha, mint, brown sugar & water (brown sugar simple syrup!), and bourbon. It’s a fantastic green tea cocktail with a refreshing touch from the mint.

Top view of a green cocktail filled with crushed ice and garnished with a sprig of mint.

This refreshing iced tea cocktail is perfect for anything from a happy hour pick-me-up to a derby party and satisfies bourbon and green tea lovers, alike. Serve over crushed ice with a sprig of mint.

You can mix green tea with rum, vodka, gin, whiskey, or in this case, bourbon. Green tea has a delicate flavor, so it tastes great when you keep the cocktail simple, with simple ingredients.

This green tea cocktail has caffeine. It is about half the amount of caffeine as espresso and about the same amount as a cup of coffee. The caffeine in matcha is long-lasting and less likely to give you jitters than coffee.

To make this recipe, you will need bourbon, water, fresh mint, culinary-grade matcha powder, bourbon, and crushed ice.

How to Make a Matcha Mint Julep

Ingredients for a matcha cocktail including water and ice, mint, matcha, bourbon, and brown sugar.

The following are affiliate links to purchase the equipment and matcha I use in this recipe. These are external links and will open in a new tab:

Start With a Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

For the simple syrup, add 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of water to a saucepan. Turn the heat to medium and stir until dissolved. Let cool, then keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator. The simple syrup will last for up to one month, so feel free to scale up the recipe 1:1.

The Cocktail

Mix the bourbon and culinary-grade matcha powder in a small bowl (photo 1). Whisk them together to remove all the clumps, preferably with a matcha whisk (photo 2).

You can also sift in the matcha powder to help reduce clumping. If you don’t have a matcha whisk, you can use a regular whisk or fork.

In an old-fashioned glass, rocks glass, or julep cup add the mint leaves and simple syrup (photo 3). Muddle until the leaves just start to break down (photo 4).

Photos showing mixing matcha and bourbon in a bowl, then mixing simple syrup and mint in a glass.

Fill the glass 3/4 full with crushed ice and then add the bourbon/matcha mixture (photo 5). Stir the ice until the glass starts to frost (photo 6). You can also do this in a cocktail shaker, but it isn’t necessary.

A hand pouring matcha into a cocktail next to a glass of green cocktail garnished with mint and a stirrer.

Then add more crushed ice to fill the glass as full as you can, and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

Side view of a green cocktail filled with crushed ice and garnished with mint.

More Cocktails and Mocktails

If you’re looking for other easy & refreshing cocktails, check out these favorites.

Matcha Mint Julep – A Green Tea Cocktail

5 from 11 votes
Print Recipe Save
A matcha mint julep is easy to make with just 5 ingredients – matcha, mint, brown sugar & water (brown sugar simple syrup!), and bourbon.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time3 minutes
Total Time8 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American, Japanese
Servings: 1
Calories: 206kcal

Ingredients

Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar or other sugar
  • 1/4 cup water

Matcha Mint Julep

  • 1 teaspoon matcha powder culinary grade
  • 10 mint leaves
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar simple syrup or other simple syrup
  • 2 ounces bourbon 1/4 cup
  • 1 sprig of mint for garnish

Instructions

  • For the simple syrup, add 1/4 cup of brown sugar* and 1/4 cup of water to a saucepan. Turn the heat to medium and stir until dissolved. Let cool, then keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
  • Mix the bourbon and matcha powder in a small bowl. Whisk together to remove all the clumps, preferably with a matcha whisk. You can also sift in the matcha powder to help reduce clumping.
  • In an old fashioned or rocks glass, add the mint leaves and 1 tablespoon of simple syrup. Muddle until the leaves just start to break down.
  • Fill the glass 3/4 full with crushed ice and add the bourbon/matcha mixture.
  • Stir until the glass starts to frost, then add more crushed ice to fill and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

Notes

*You can use any sugar that dissolves in warm water for the simple syrup, but the flavor from the brown sugar is lovely and recommended.
Let the simple syrup cool, then keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It will last for up to one month, so feel free to scale up the recipe 1:1.
If you don’t have a matcha whisk (chawan) you can use a regular whisk or a fork. Just make sure to get rid of all the clumps.

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 625IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you try this recipe?I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a Review to let us know how it came out, if you have a successful substitution or variation, or anything else.

15 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    YUM! This is such a fun twist on a mint julep! The brown sugar simple syrup really gives it a richer, more flavorful depth. The matcha is so delicious and so bright! I love it!

  2. 5 stars
    Ooh what a unique combo! This is so refreshing and very pretty too! Definitely something to try 😀

  3. 5 stars
    This green tea cocktail is soo refreshing and the colour of the tea is beautiful! I’ve been meaning to make a drink like this for some time and i finally found the perfect recipe! Thank you for sharing this.

  4. I’m reading this while drinking my morning matcha – I must mix one of these babies later in the day lol!

  5. I have a whole jar of matcha that I bought spur of the moment and haven’t figured out what to use it in. This looks perfect for my bourbon-loving hubby.

  6. 5 stars
    This is such a fun twist on a mint julep! The matcha adds such a lively flavor and beautiful color that’s perfect for summer cocktails.

5 from 11 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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