ZenMatcha Cocktails

Basic Matcha Martini

Dissolve 1 tablespoon of 50/50 matcha/sugar mix into 2 tablespoons of water. Pour into a shaker full of ice, and add 2 shots of vodka. Shake shake shake. Pour into a martini glass - garnish with seasonal fruit if you like.

If it's too strong, top up with a little sparkling water.

Classic Matcha Martini

Ingredients:

1 tsp matcha powder
1 oz Gin or Vodka
1/4 oz Dry vermouth
1/4 oz Cointreau

Preparation:
Combine ingredients in a shaker, shake, strain and serve straight up in a martini glass.

Matcha Zentini

1 tsp ZenMatcha powder
1 ounce Godiva White Chocolate liquer
1 ounce vanilla vodka
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Shake well over ice and pour

Garnish with a mint leaf and cinnamon (can substitute cream and clear white chocolate liquer for Godiva liquer)

...Sip and lift off!

Citrus Matcha Martini

Ingredients

1 tsp matcha green tea powder
2 oz Ketel One citrus-infused vodka or other smooth vodkas
1/2 oz Grand Marnier or favorite brandy or rum

Directions

Step #1 Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice & shake until chilled.
Step #2 Pour into a martini glass.
Step #3 Garnish with orange zest if you like.

Green Tea Ice Cream Martini

Green tea is known to be packed with health benefits, and green tea ice cream is a refreshing finish to any meal (or right out of the carton while watching a good movie). Charbay, a micro-distillery in Napa, has created Green Tea Vodka and George Senak, a bartender at Meadowood in Napa Valley's St. Helena, is shaking Charbay's Green Tea Vodka into his version of a Green Tea Ice Cream Martini, which is sure to be your cup of tea.

2 1/4 ounces Charbay Green Tea Vodka
1 1/2 ounces half and half
1/2 ounce vanilla-infused simple syrup

Instructions:

To make the syrup, slice a vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Put the bean and seeds, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Reduce to medium-low heat and let simmer until the mixture has reduced by half and has the consistency of thin syrup. Pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl and let cool.

Pour the ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, making sure the mixture is well combined and frothy, then pour into a chilled martini glass. To add color, sprinkle some matcha (powdered green tea leaves) on top.