Every once in awhile I come across a topic that catches my attention. It catches my attention because so many people talk about it.
It was even mentioned to me at the Chicago International Tea Festival I was surrounded by Japanese tea merchants. The Japanese tea farmers did not understand the concept and we had to explain it to them. Even after the explanation they seemed astonished by such an idea.
There seems to be a surprise with the drink that we will discuss further.
The Green Tea Shot Examined
The name given to the green tea shot is because of the color of the drink that gives it that green tea look. Have you seen a green tea shot?
I’ve seen many cups of green tea and I’ve never seen one that looks like that. I can only assume it was not a tea drinker that gave it this name. Maybe someone who has never had a cup of beautiful green tea themselves.
Standing with some of the Japanese Tea Farmers at the Chicago International Tea Festival. I had a translator ask them if they ever heard of alcoholic beverages made with tea, including the green tea shot. They looked surprised and a slight bit disgusted. I told them how the United States has begun to make alcoholic beverages that include tea. They were polite. I knew they had no understanding of the American concept of a green tea shot.
Here is the surprise. There is no green tea in a green tea shot! Not one drop. So where does it get its name? They say from the color. I found this misleading and confusing.
One article even stated:
“Sorry, folks there are no healthy antioxidants or catechins in green tea shots”.
While the green tea shot is not made with actual green tea. There are several drinks popping up all across the United States. These drinks include both alcohol and tea.
Are there any green tea shots out there? I had to do some exploring and came up with a few.
Features & Benefits
Oh, the world of tea. What started out as a mistake has taken the world by storm. Tea has become the second most popular drink next to the water.
- we started out with simple tea
- we made it complex
- we added herbs
- we bottled it
- we used it to make kombucha
- and have added it to our desserts
Today we are adding alcohol to our amazing and wonderful tea.
What’s next?
Tea is versatile. I don’t drink a lot of alcohol but I found the idea of a green tea shot very interesting. While I began to research green tea shots, I found with disappointment, that there was no actual green tea in the shot. That led me further down the green tea shot rabbit hole.
The green tea shot is a bit of a play on words. I have searched the internet to find the true beginnings and have come up empty. To name a tea after a color, a color that does not even relate is a concept that I do not understand. Is the name Green Tea Shot to confuse patrons into believing they are drinking something healthy? Do people realize there is no green tea in their green tea shot? After a few green tea shots, I bet they don’t. Ha!
It does surprise me the whole concept. I wanted to write about it to add light to the subject. To share the fact there is no green tea in the green tea shot. To find out what alcoholic beverages are out there that are made with green tea.
The Japanese farmers were right to scoff at the thought of a green tea shot, in reality, there is not one. Not an alcoholic one at least. Serious tea drinkers will scoff at this article. But the article does not need to be justified. It’s a clarification. There are people who may be confused by the green tea shot and this will bring understanding.
I did find two recipes: one for a matcha shot and another for a green tea shot. Neither contained alcohol. Both were strong, very strong versions of green tea, condensed, and put into a shot and consumed. I will share those recipes below.
So You Want to Try a Green Tea Shot
A green tea shot is an alcoholic beverage. But does it contain green tea? If it does not then why the name?
There are a few things to consider when preparing a green tea shot. You will need a shot glass, of your choice. The other ingredients included are:
Peach Schnapps
- Irish Whiskey
- Sour Mix
- Lemon-Lime Soda
- Ice
To make the Green Tea Shot you need
- 0.05 ounces of Jameson Irish Whiskey
- 0.05 ounces of Peach Schnapps
- A dash of Sprite
- 0.5 ounces of sour mix
Instructions
- Add the Jameson Irish Whiskey into a shaker
- Add the peach schnapps and the dash of sprite to the shaker
- Add the sour mix
- Shake thoroughly and pour into the glass
When do you put the green tea in?
Social Proof
During my search for the perfect green tea shot, I came across some rather positive reviews. I’d like to share.
“No green tea is actually used in this green tea shot recipe! The flavors are bright, peachy, and deliciously soothing. It’s delicious!”
“It soothes sensitive taste buds. It makes alcohol palatable. It calms nerves and gives new meaning to “a good night out.”
“This simple Irish whiskey-based shot includes fruity ingredients that give it the perfect amount of sweet and tart.”
Recipes
The following recipes are from Liquid Image
Matcha Green Tea Shot
- Take 45 ml of Matcha green tea and sift into hot (80 C) water.
- Whisk
- Pour into a shot glass
ENJOY
Iced Lemon Green Tea Shot
- For every 8 ounces of room temperature water add two teaspoons of green tea loose leaf.
- Leave this mixture in the fridge for at least 12 hours
- Add a few slices of lemon a few hours before serving
- Pour into shot glasses
And enjoy
You may or can dilute with water or lemonade if too strong
Now here are a few alcoholic beverages that actually do contain green tea
From Liquor.com
Green Tea Highball Cocktail
- 2 oz. Japanese whiskey
- 2 oz. brewed green tea cooled
- Soda water
How to:
- Add the whiskey and tea to a Collins glass with an ice spear and stir.
- Top with soda water
- You can use maple leaf candy to garnish
The food networks shares
Whiskey and Jasmine Green Tea Chillers
- Lemon Slices for garnish
- Dried jasmine flowers for garnish
- 8 jasmine green tea bags
- 8-10 ounces Irish Whiskey
- ½ cup of sugar
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the sugar, and stir until it has dissolved. Let cool for 2 minutes. Add tea bags, stir and let steep for 3 minutes. Remove the tea bags, and squeeze the liquid back into the pot. Transfer the tea to a container, and refrigerate until cool. About 10 minutes.
Fill 4 highball glasses, Collins glasses, or 12 ounces mason jars with ice. Add 2 to 3 ounces of the whiskey and 8 ounces of the tea to each. Garnish with a lemon slice and dried jasmine flowers if using.
Infusing the green tea into the whiskey sounds like a clean version. From thrillist.com I found this:
You will need:
- 32-ounce mason jar
- Spoon
- Ingredients:
- 1- 750 ml bottle Japanese whisks you. Such as Akashi White Oak
- 18 grams loose green tea such as sencha, houjicha or genmaicha
Method
- Pour the whiskey into the large glass jar
- Pour in the loose leaf tea and stir, briefly
- Steep for 45 minutes
- Strain out the tea
ENJOY!
Conclusion
On our journey to reveal the truth about the green tea shots. We found a few very interesting mixes both alcoholic and virgin. It’s a different article than most will read on my blog. I wanted to explore the world of the green tea shot. I guess it was explored and exposed.
Those Japanese tea farmers might think we are crazy. But to the whiskey drinker, I think we found just another way to express our love of green tea. It will increase its unique taste and style. It also shows how versatile tea can be as many more are serving tea in alcoholic mixes.
It’s a great day to be a tea lover.
