Matcha Tea Mojito Mocktail/Cocktail
Planta Queen is a very innovative and a special and creative vegetarian restaurant located in Coconut Grove, Florida with other locations across the Eastern US. Their menu and their food is varied and interesting. This cocktail has so much flavor. The matcha and the mint are so refreshing together, especially how it is served over crushed ice. It is on the Planta menu as a “mocktail” but we just asked for a shot of rum. this is our version. Make the syrup ahead of time, if you can. It will keep in the refrigerator for a week and you can add it to everything. It is refreshing, gives you a kick of caffeine and the matcha and mint blend wonderfully. At the restaurant, it was topped with a dried lime, but any dried citrus would be pretty and don’t forget the fresh mint. When done with your cocktail, place the mint in a glass of water in your window. Within 10 days, the sprig of mint should have sprouted a lot of roots and you can transplant the mint into a pot or your garden once the frost is gone. In Miami, mint season is from October to April. It then gets too hot. Mint is easy to grow and it just goes wild and takes over. You will have fresh mint all summer long. No need to rush out to the store everytime you are craving this cocktail.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
Makes 1 Matcha Mojito
6-12 mint leaves, to taste. Some people like a more minty flavor
1 slice lime, sliced very thick
1-2 Tbs matcha syrup (recipe follows, good to make in advance)
1 Tbs lime juice
1-2 ounces of white rum
4 ounces club soda
1 cup crushed ice
1 dried slice of citrus (lime preferred, but orange and blood orange work too)
Ingredients:
Matcha Simple Syrup (Makes 4 cocktails)
¼ cup water
¼ cup sugar
2 teaspoons matcha powder
Directions:
Make the matcha simple syrup by placing the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Place over low heat, bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar has just dissolved. This should not take very long. Add the matcha powder. Stir well. Chill.
Muddle 1 slice of lime with the mint leaves and 1 Tbs sugar. Add the lime juice, the rum and 2 Tbs of the cooled matcha syrup.
Place the muddled limes, mint, sugar and rum into the bottom of your serving glass. Top off with 4 ounces of club soda. Add crushed ice.
Top with additional mint leaves and a slice of dried citrus.