Matcha Lemonade: Starbucks Copycat Recipe

A deliciously sweet, tart, and earthy matcha lemonade recipe just like the one you get at Starbucks only with fewer calories, and WAY less sugar! It’s a refreshing lemonade green tea you can enjoy all summer long!

Matcha is my new favorite ingredient! I’ve made matcha cookies, matcha muffins, matcha latte, and dalgona matcha!

This matcha lemonade recipe is the perfect drink to enjoy poolside, or wherever you plan to spend your summer days. It’s half lemonade, half matcha tea.

It’s lightly sweetened, with a refreshing tart lemon flavor, plus a hint of caffeine to get you through the day! I make a cup full of lots of ice and put it in my to-go cup to take with me while I run errands, and shuffle my kids from one activity to the next.

This simple recipe takes about 5 minutes and requires 4 simple ingredients. It makes one large serving or two smaller servings.

Why This Recipe Works

• Cool and refreshing summer drink
• A quarter of the calories of the Starbucks drink
• More than a quarter of the sugar as the Starbucks version
• High in antioxidants and vitamin C
• Only 5 minutes to make
• 4 Simple Ingredients
• A healthy pick-me-up!

Recipe Ingredients and Notes

Ice Cold Water: Use fresh filtered cold water for the best results. You’ll need 1 cup or 8 ounces of water.

Lemon Juice: Squeeze the juice of one lemon, and remove any seeds. Fresh lemon juice is the best! One lemon will yield ¼ cup of juice.

Pure Matcha Powder: This earthy green tea powder packs a powerful punch. All you need is one teaspoon to achieve the earthy flavor.

Warm Water: A touch of warm water is needed to mix with the matcha before adding it to your drink.

Maple Syrup: For added sweetness, use a touch of maple syrup. You can also use a simple syrup which is more traditional. However, I prefer the maple syrup as it is vegan friendly and less processed than cane sugar.

Ice Cubes: You’ll need enough ice to fill two small glasses.

Tools and Equipment

• A cocktail shaker or smoothie cup with a sealable lid to combine all the ingredients easily.
• Measuring spoons for measuring out the maple syrup and matcha.
• Measuring cup for measuring the water.
• Citrus juicer to squeeze the lemon juice.

Instructions

Squeeze the Lemon Juice: Using a citrus juicer squeeze the juice from one lemon. Remove any seeds from the juice. One lemon will yield about ¼ cup of lemon juice.

Combine Juice and Water: Pour the lemon juice into a cocktail shaker or large smoothie cup with a sealable lid. Then add half a cup of water and maple syrup. Secure the lid and shake until combined, about 15-30 seconds.

Add Matcha: Combine the matcha powder and warm water in a small bowl. Whisk together until combined. Add the matcha to the cup with the lemon juice. Secure the lid and shake again until combined, about 15-30 seconds.

Pour Over Ice: Fill two glasses with ice. Pour the lemonade over the top. Enjoy!

Recipe FAQS

Expert Tips

• Use your favorite matcha powder brand. Matcha varies in cost. You can find it anywhere from $10-$80. The more green the matcha powder the more expensive. I recommend starting off with mid-cost matcha to see if you like it before investing in one that is pricey.
• Garnish with fresh lemon slices.

Variations and Substitutions

Make a Simple Syrup: Most lemonades are made with simple syrup. If you’d like to make your own, instead of using the maple syrup for sweetness. Combine two teaspoons of organic cane sugar with two teaspoons of hot water. If you prefer a sweeter flavor use up to 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of hot water.

Non-Vegan Version: If you don’t have maple syrup you can use honey. Honey is quite thick, so combine 2 teaspoons of honey with 1 tablespoon of hot water to dilute the honey and create a syrup-like consistency.

Sweeter Version: If this lemonade is too tart for you, feel free to add more maple syrup. Add 1 teaspoon at a time to taste.

Limeade Version: To create a limeade version, substitute the lemon juice for lime juice. You’ll need the juice of two limes or ¼ cup of lime juice since limes are generally smaller than lemons.