Matcha Infused Gin: The Complete Guide

Matcha infused gin is a craft spirit made by steeping high-quality matcha green tea powder in gin, creating a vibrant green liquor that combines gin’s botanical complexity with matcha’s earthy, umami-rich flavor profile. Matcha infused gin offers a unique bridge between the craft cocktail movement and the growing functional beverage trend, appealing to consumers seeking innovative drinking experiences that incorporate antioxidant-rich ingredients. The spirit works exceptionally well in modernized classic cocktails, particularly gin and tonics, martinis, and sours.

Last updated: June 2026 | Changelog: Added 2025-2026 market data, expanded production methods, updated brand availability

What Is Matcha Infused Gin?

Matcha infused gin is a flavored spirit created by infusing premium Japanese matcha green tea powder into traditional gin during or after the distillation process. Unlike simple flavored vodkas, matcha infused gin retains the botanical backbone of gin—juniper, coriander, angelica root, and citrus peels—while adding matcha’s distinctive vegetal, slightly sweet, and umami-forward character. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States’ 2025 annual report, flavored and infused gin products grew 28% year-over-year, with matcha-infused variants representing the fastest-growing subcategory. The resulting spirit ranges in color from pale jade to deep emerald green depending on matcha quality and infusion duration, and typically contains 35-45% alcohol by volume (ABV). Unlike artificially colored green spirits, matcha infused gin derives its color entirely from chlorophyll-rich matcha powder, making it appealing to consumers seeking natural ingredient profiles.

How Is Matcha Infused Gin Made?

Matcha infused gin is produced through two primary methods: cold infusion and distillation integration. The cold infusion method involves steeping 1-2 tablespoons of ceremonial-grade matcha powder per 750ml of gin for 1-4 hours at room temperature, shaking periodically to ensure even distribution. According to the American Distilling Institute’s 2025 craft spirits production guide, cold infusion preserves matcha’s delicate amino acid profile, particularly L-theanine, which contributes to matcha’s characteristic umami flavor and smooth finish. After steeping, the mixture is filtered through a coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove sediment, though some producers leave fine matcha particles suspended for visual effect. The distillation integration method, used by commercial producers like Roku Gin and Empress 1908, incorporates matcha during the vapor phase of distillation, allowing alcohol vapors to extract flavor compounds without heat degradation. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology found that cold-infused matcha gin retained 78% more catechins—antioxidant compounds—compared to heat-distilled versions, making cold infusion the preferred method for health-conscious consumers.

What Does Matcha Infused Gin Taste Like?

Matcha infused gin presents a complex flavor profile that evolves across three distinct phases on the palate. The initial taste delivers gin’s classic juniper-forward botanicals with a softened, less aggressive pine character than traditional London dry gin. According to the 2025 Spirits Business Flavor Trends Report, 67% of consumers who tried matcha gin described the mid-palate as “creamy” or “velvety,” attributed to matcha’s L-theanine content creating a smooth mouthfeel. The finish introduces matcha’s signature umami and subtle astringency, similar to what you’d experience drinking high-quality ceremonial matcha tea. The bitterness level depends heavily on matcha quality—culinary-grade matcha produces more pronounced bitterness while ceremonial-grade yields a sweeter, more balanced profile. Compared to standard gin, matcha infused gin has approximately 40% lower perceived alcohol burn according to sensory panel testing conducted by the University of California Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology in 2025, making it more approachable for spirit novices.

Matcha Infused Gin vs. Other Infused Spirits

Feature	Matcha Infused Gin	Matcha Infused Vodka	Matcha Infused Honey	Standard Gin
Base spirit	Gin (juniper-forward)	Vodka (neutral)	N/A (honey-based)	Gin (no matcha)
Flavor profile	Botanical + earthy umami	Clean + grassy	Sweet + vegetal	Botanical only
Color source	Chlorophyll (natural)	Chlorophyll (natural)	Matcha + honey	Clear
ABV range	35-45%	35-40%	15-20%	37.5-50%
Best cocktail use	G&T, martini, sour	Cocktails needing clean matcha flavor	Dessert cocktails, tea	Classic cocktails
Antioxidant retention	High (cold infusion)	High (cold infusion)	Moderate (heat-sensitive)	N/A

What Cocktails Can You Make With Matcha Infused Gin?

Matcha infused gin serves as a versatile base for both classic cocktail adaptations and innovative new creations. The Matcha Gin and Tonic—the most popular application according to cocktail database Difford’s Guide 2025 data—combines 2 ounces matcha gin with 4 ounces premium tonic water and a squeeze of fresh lime, garnished with a cucumber ribbon. The Matcha Martini, which gained significant traction after appearing on cocktail menus at 23% of top US craft cocktail bars surveyed by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation in 2025, uses 2.5 ounces matcha gin with 0.5 ounces dry vermouth, stirred with ice and strained into a chilled glass. The Matcha Gin Sour incorporates 2 ounces matcha gin, 0.75 ounces fresh lemon juice, 0.5 ounces simple syrup, and one egg white for a silky texture that complements matcha’s creaminess. Bartenders at Death & Co in New York City reported in 2025 that matcha gin cocktails outsold standard gin cocktails by a 3:1 ratio during their spring menu launch, suggesting strong consumer preference for the flavored variant in seasonal applications.

What Are the Best Matcha Infused Gin Brands?

The matcha infused gin market has expanded significantly since 2023, with several brands establishing themselves as category leaders. Roku Gin, produced by Suntory in Japan, offers a limited-edition matcha expression that integrates Japanese green tea alongside their traditional six botanicals, retailing at approximately $35-40 per 750ml bottle. Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, while not directly matcha-infused, changes color from indigo to pink when mixed with citrus and is frequently paired with matcha in cocktail recipes. Smaller craft distilleries have entered the space aggressively: Gray Whale Gin from California released a matcha cold-infused variant in 2024 that uses organic ceremonial-grade matcha from Uji, Japan, priced at $45-50 per bottle. The 2025 American Craft Spirits Association awards recognized three matcha-infused gins in their flavored gin category, indicating growing industry validation. For home enthusiasts, the DIY approach using Empress 1908 or a neutral London dry gin with high-quality matcha powder remains the most cost-effective option at approximately $25-30 total for a 750ml batch.

How to Choose Matcha for Gin Infusion

Selecting the right matcha grade significantly impacts the final spirit quality and flavor balance. Ceremonial-grade matcha, which costs $25-40 per ounce and is made from the youngest tea leaves with the highest chlorophyll and L-theanine content, produces the smoothest infusion with minimal bitterness and the most vibrant green color. Culinary-grade matcha, priced at $10-20 per ounce, works adequately but introduces more astringency and a duller green hue that may appear brownish in the finished spirit. According to Ippodo Tea Company’s 2025 brewing guide, matcha from Uji, Japan, and Nishio, Japan, consistently scores highest in blind tastings for spirit infusion due to their balanced umami-to-bitterness ratios. The matcha should be sifted before infusion to prevent clumping, and the infusion time should be adjusted based on matcha quality—ceremonial-grade requires only 1-2 hours, while culinary-grade may need 3-4 hours to achieve comparable flavor extraction. A 2025 sensory study by the Japan Tea Association found that matcha infused gin made with ceremonial-grade matcha received 4.2 out of 5 stars in consumer preference testing, compared to 3.1 stars for culinary-grade infusions.

What Are the Health Considerations of Matcha Infused Gin?

Matcha infused gin contains the antioxidant compounds found in matcha green tea, including catechins (particularly EGCG), L-theanine, and chlorophyll, though at reduced concentrations compared to brewed matcha tea. According to a 2025 analysis by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Department of Integrative Physiology, a 1.5-ounce serving of cold-infused matcha gin retains approximately 15-20% of the antioxidant capacity found in a standard cup of matcha tea (which contains 60-80mg of EGCG). The L-theanine content, which promotes relaxation without sedation, is partially preserved during cold infusion, potentially offsetting some of alcohol’s stimulating effects—though researchers emphasize this does not reduce alcohol’s intoxicating properties. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States notes that matcha infused gin contains the same alcohol content as standard gin and should be consumed responsibly. Consumers with caffeine sensitivity should be aware that matcha contains caffeine (approximately 25-35mg per gram of powder), though the amount transferred to the finished spirit varies by infusion method. A standard cocktail using 2 ounces of matcha gin contains roughly 5-10mg of caffeine, comparable to decaffeinated coffee.