Sweet Matcha Green Tea

Experience the rich, refined flavor of matcha with a sweet twist. Sweet Matcha Green Tea is a refreshing summer favorite in Japan’s Kansai region. This chilled drink strikes the perfect balance between the delicate bitterness of matcha and just the right amount of sweetness—making it a smooth, easy-to-enjoy beverage.

Sweet Matcha Green Tea is a Japanese beverage made by mixing matcha powder and sugar with cold water.

Traditionally, matcha is enjoyed for its rich, slightly bitter umami flavor by whisking it with hot water. However, in Japan’s Kansai region (parts of western Japan), there is a unique custom of mixing matcha powder with sugar and cold water to create a refreshing, sweetened drink. In Kansai, this drink is simply called “green tea,” so when people there hear the term “green tea” in English, they are more likely to think of this cold, sweet matcha beverage rather than the typical hot version.

It is said to have originated over half a century ago in Kyoto—one of the most renowned tea-producing regions in Japan—and even today, it is often sold in front of tea shops during the hot season, making it a summer tradition in Kansai.

What makes this drink special is the perfect balance between the slightly bitter yet rich umami flavor of matcha and the sweetness of sugar. This combination creates a unique and deeply satisfying flavor that sets it apart from other beverages.

I especially recommend this sweet green tea to those who have tried traditional matcha but didn’t quite like the taste. You might discover a whole new way to enjoy it.

SThere are no complicated steps involved in making sweet matcha green tea. All you need to do is add matcha powder and sugar in the proper ratio, and mix them with cold water.

That said, some people might find that matcha doesn’t mix easily with water. If that’s the case, try paying attention to the following aspects of the matcha:

• Quality: Higher-quality matcha powder is usually ground more finely than lower-quality varieties, which makes it easier to mix.
• Freshness: Fresh matcha powder tends to be smoother than older matcha that has been exposed to air and moisture, making it easier to blend.
• Mixing method: Start by thoroughly mixing the matcha powder with a small amount of hot water until smooth, then add cold water and stir gently again. This method works best because matcha mixes more easily with hot water than cold.

In addition to these tips, sifting the matcha through a tea strainer can also help it mix more easily with water.

Of course, if you don’t mind some small clumps, you don’t need to be too particular about all this. If you have matcha powder on hand, feel free to use it and enjoy it in a casual way.

You can adjust the sweetness of this green tea to suit your taste by changing the amount of sugar you add.

In my recipe, I used a sugar-to-matcha ratio of 1:5 by weight. If you have a sweet tooth, you can increase the amount of sugar. I think I have made it just sweet enough—but compared to what you'd find at a tea shop in Kansai or in store-bought versions, it might be a bit milder.

On the other hand, if you are not a fan of overly sweet drinks, I recommend starting with less sugar. You can always add more later, so try adjusting it little by little until it tastes just right to you.

When making this drink, it is important to use sugar that dissolves easily in water. Regular granulated sugar works well, but if you use sugar with larger crystals, it may not dissolve completely. For this reason, sugars like brown sugar or mineral-rich sugars are not recommended.

Although this differs slightly from the traditional method, you can also use simple syrup instead of sugar. However, keep in mind that the sweetness level can vary depending on the type of syrup you use, so be sure to adjust the amount to taste.

Ingredients

Instructions

Step 1
Add matcha powder, sugar, and hot water to a cup, and mix well until smooth. (If you don’t mind some small clumps, you can use cold water instead of hot water.)

Step 2
Add cold water and stir gently. You can add ice cubes if desired.

To store

Consume it on the same day, as it contains sugar and doesn’t keep well.

• If you want to prevent your cup from getting scratched while mixing, be sure to use a wooden or plastic stirrer, spoon, or a chasen (a special Japanese bamboo whisk used for mixing matcha).
• If you are making a large batch, it is best to prepare your sweet matcha green tea in a separate container first, then pour it into individual cups.