Healthy matcha cocktail recipes for the holidays

This year I decided to change it up a bit and introduce you to some fun and creative drink recipes that you will hopefully get curious about and try something different for the holidays. As much as I love my daily calm and grounded morning matcha ritual, I also like to have FUN in the kitchen! Although I don't really drink myself, my background in professional kitchens as well as travelling and trying new foods (and drinks) as well as cooking and serving family and friends delicious meals, I understand the need for both - health and pleasure. And I think Christmas time - especially the holidays with family and friends - should represent a mindful as well as a celebratory element this time of the year.

That's why these recipes are first and foremost delicious but they are also (mostly) alcohol and sugar-free! Make these cocktails on the days you really don't feel like drinking but you also don't want to miss out on the fun and most important - you want to wake up feeling good and refreshed (sugar can knock you out quite badly as well)... and why not sneak in some of those cocktails during a festivity and let others try something new as well!

The first one is super simple, quick and easy to make and always a crowd pleaser for those who like pure and not too sweet cocktails in general. We used our Morning Ritual Matcha and this sugar-free Tonic water.

Last month I went to the Quartier Moderne in Biarritz and I met the founder of Papompette (the leading non-alcoholic beverage retailer in Les Landes who offers a range of ingredients for accessible and sophisticated drinks) who introduced me to an incredible product that I immediately fell in love with - "Ginger and Apricot" concentrate by Jardins*

The moment I tried it, I knew it's going to taste amazing with matcha - and bonus points for it being sugar-free (only sweetened with fruit juice)!

Not much to add except - try it if you like more fruity and floral flavors and feel free to add some rosemary or lavender to the drink for an extra layer of herbal notes.

*And if you don't live in France or have access to this product, you can substitute it with Gimber (try the one with ginger, passion fruit, pineapple and turmeric) for this specific drink. It is available outside of France as well!

And because I also wanted to include a traditional Japanese cocktail (with alcohol), I chose this specific one because it was my first matcha cocktail I had in New York 15 years ago (in a Japanese speak easy bar) and I truly loved it because it was different and had a very unique flavor! For this recipe I recommend a higher quality matcha like our Supreme Sen or Heritage Premium but of course you can also use the Morning Ritual matcha - the sweetness of the Gimber balances out the bitterness nicely.

Have a wonderful Christmas time wih your loved ones and enjoy all the delicious food and drinks! We will talk about mindful morning rituals next year ;-)