Cold brew matcha is the easiest and best way to make a delicious, refreshing, and healthy cup of iced matcha! This cold brew matcha “recipe” is as simple as 1, 2, 3—just scoop the matcha into a lidded jar or thermal container, add water (or coconut water) and ice, and shake it like crazy!
Here’s a quick video that shows you how:
What is matcha?
Matcha is a finely milled green tea powder that uses specially cultivated whole tea leaves grown in the shade and processed to remove the stems and veins. Folks in China and Japan have consumed jade green matcha for eons, but now everyone’s obsessed with it—not just because of its purported health benefits, but also because it’s so dang pretty. That’s why photos of vibrant green matcha drinks and treats seem to be taking over your Instagram feed.
Why drink matcha?
Sadly, after a long and torrid relationship, I broke up with coffee a few years ago because it makes me feel super jittery. Although matcha contains caffeine, too, I don’t feel as anxious when I drink it because matcha also contains l-theanine, an amino acid that produces a relaxing effect. On mornings when I need to get a lot of work done, drinking cold brew matcha gives me calm focus, allowing me to power through my to-do list with ease.
What kind of matcha should I use, and what does it taste like?
Okay, I’m gonna be straight with you: high-quality matcha isn’t cheap. However, you don’t need to buy the ultra expensive stuff because, by default, your taste buds will be slightly desensitized due to the icy temperature.
My favorite matcha is the cold brew matcha from this company (use code: nomnompaleo to save 20%. Not a sponsor or an affiliate link—I just love them and asked them to give you a discount.).
At the same time, I don’t like using low-grade culinary grade matcha in cold brew because it’ll taste bitter or muddy unless it’s combined with milk or a sweetener. (Also, call me superficial, but I like my matcha to be bright green.)
In terms of taste, matcha imparts an indescribably bright, mildly grassy flavor. Ceremonial and premium grade matcha are smoother and less astringent than the culinary grade matcha. Not sure if you’re a fan? Try a cup of the stuff at your local hipster coffee joint before you buy an expensive tin of matcha. (I, for one, love sipping matcha lattes from my neighborhood cafe!)
Cold brew matcha is so easy!
Unlike brewing a cup of traditional hot matcha, you don’t need to worry about bringing the water up to the right temperature, whisking everything with the proper bamboo whisk, or finding the perfect bowl to ensure you get the right whiff of aroma to put you in a zen-like state.
In contrast, the only way to mess up cold brew matcha is to not screw the lid on the jar properly before shaking it up—no one wants to be showered with icy matcha in the morning, am I right? When I come home after a great workout at the gym, I love shaking up a jar of cold brew matcha with coconut water so I can replenish with some extra carbs and electrolytes. So delicious!
Cold brew matcha is perfect for newbies
If you’re (figuratively, not literally) dipping your toe into pure matcha drinks (e.g. matcha mixed only with water) and want to appreciate the true flavor of matcha itself, cold brew matcha is a great way to start. Not only is it a lot easier to make, you still get most of the benefits (the l-theanine in matcha is extracted with cold water) and none of the bitterness that can be released with hot water.
Not quite ready for straight-up cold brew matcha? Make my Cold Matcha Latte instead!
Shake and take it with you!
Cold brew matcha is also great for people on the go (that’s you!) because you can shake it and take it with you in the same container. If the matcha falls out of suspension when you arrive at wherever you’re going, simply put the lid back on and shake again.
Can you make it ahead?
Yes, I have jars filled with cold brew matcha in the fridge in the summertime and add ice right before I drink it or take it with me. The most I’ve made the jars ahead of time is 2 days because I think cold brew matcha loses some of its oomph the longer it sits.
Ready to shake up a jar of cold brew matcha?
Serves one
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon ceremonial grade matcha or cold brew matcha (use code nomnompaleo to save 20%)
- 1½ cups cold water or coconut water (I like Harmless Coconut Water)
- 5 ice cubes (or as many that can fit with adequate headroom to shake it up)
Equipment:
- Pint-sized lidded mason jar or thermal container
- measuring spoon
Method:
Measure out the matcha and dump it in a pint-sized mason jar or thermal container.
Pour in about 1½ cups of cold water or coconut water into the jar. (Pink-colored coconut water will make your cold brew look brown, but only until you actually shake the ingredients together.)
Carefully plop in the ice…
…and tightly twist a lid onto the jar.
Shake vigorously until all of the matcha is suspended in the water or coconut water.
Pop off the top and enjoy!
Got extra matcha? Make these other nomtastic recipes:
Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).
PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
Cold Brew Matcha
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon ceremonial grade matcha or cold brew matcha (use code: nomnompaleo to save 20%)
- 12 ounces cold water or coconut water (I like Harmless Coconut Water brand)
- 5 ice cubes or as many that can fit with adequate headroom to shake it up
Instructions
- Combine the matcha, water or coconut water, and ice in a pint-sized mason jar or thermal container.
- Twist on the lid and shake vigorously until the matcha goes into suspension. Enjoy immediately!
Chrissey Adams says
Do you have to use cold brew matcha? I think i ordered regular matcha
gerimaya whyte says
Cold brew Matcha is how you are preparing it. The kind of Matcha is ceremonial grade. You can still use the kind you have. Ceremonial grade is the preferred higher quality.
Maria says
Hi do you not need to brew it for minimum 12 hours like with cold brew coffee?
Michelle Tam says
Nope! Just shake and serve.
Adam says
That place you linked to buy the matcha has “free shipping” plastered all over its site — even though it automatically switched my region and currency to Canadian before I even landed on the homepage — and yet the shipping is definitely NOT free. In fact, the cheapest option (to the West Coast of Canada, an hour away from Bellingham, Washington) is 1st Class Priority, costing $28 dollars and promising delivery in 1-3 weeks. That on a single jar, $51 order. Which more than offsets the 20% saved from your promotional code, unfortunately.
Just wanted to inform people because despite what may or may not be a high quality product, that sort of blatant dishonesty (or, more charitably, shitty site design) does not bode well for a business’ moral character.
Michelle Tam says
I have no financial ties with Breakaway Matcha. It’s simply a brand that I’ve enjoyed.
Jan says
which blend did you get? (:
Michelle Tam says
I normally get the cold brew blend!