Tea cocktails: how to infuse, which teas to choose and 5 combinations that work (matcha, oolong, jasmine, black tea)
Cold brew, syrup, tea steeped in spirits, shaken matcha: the techniques that turn a tea leaf into a real bar ingredient.
Tea has entered the bar
Tea now appears on modern cocktail menus: jasmine gin, oolong-lengthened sake, shaken matcha.
It brings structure, aroma and a credible alternative to industrial syrups.
Why tea works in a cocktail
Tannins and structure: tea replaces bitters or vermouth
Tea tannins give grip and length, playing the role usually held by bitters or vermouth, with adjustable intensity.
Aromas: floral, vegetal, woody or fruity, malty
Jasmine is floral, matcha vegetal, oolong ranges from floral to roasted, black tea is malty. Choose the family first, then the spirit.
For more on this semi-oxidised family, see our oolong tea guide.
The 4 techniques to put tea in a cocktail
Generic starting points, to adjust by tasting.
Cold brew
Leaves in cold water, 6 to 12 hours in the fridge: soft, aromatic, low bitterness.
Tea syrup
Concentrated hot infusion plus equal sugar; keeps one to two weeks refrigerated.
Tea infused in the spirit
Minutes for green tea, up to about an hour for black tea; strain finely.
Whisked or shaken matcha
Sift, loosen in warm water or shake hard with ice. Powder is worked, not strained.
Hot vs cold infusion
Hot water extracts fast, including tannins; cold water is slower, softer and less astringent.
Which tea with which spirit?
Extend the tea’s aroma with a spirit that shares a note, without overpowering it.
| Tea | Spirit | Why it works | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matcha | Gin | Vegetal notes meet gin botanicals. | Too much powder. |
| Oolong | Sake or whisky | Floral roundness or roasted wood. | Heavy roast with delicate sake. |
| Black tea | Rum | Malty structure for exotic fruit. | Too much sugar. |
5 combinations that work, seen at the MAISON LE TÊ bar
Five cocktails from the MAISON LE TÊ menu, read through their composition only.
Le Matcha Gimlet Fizz
Gin, matcha, citrus, sparkling water
Matcha and gin, lightened into a fizz.
Le Oolong Sake Sour
Sake Setoichi “I’ll be back”, oolong tea, egg white, citrus
Oolong gives sake the structure of a sour.
Le Lady in Pink
Gin, jasmine green tea, raspberry, citrus
Jasmine and raspberry share a floral line.
Le Lychee Iced-Tea
White rum, lychee, black tea
Black tea adds length to rum and lychee.
Le Sake Fizz
Sake Ashigari-Go Kaze No Michi, sparkling water, citrus
No tea: a base onto which green tea could be grafted.
For food pairings, see our article on Taiwanese street food in Paris.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink responsibly.
Alcohol-free: 3 tea mocktails to make at home
Generic ideas from this article, not the bar’s recipes.
Matcha tonic
Loosened matcha over ice, topped with tonic.
Sparkling oolong-lemon
Cold-brew oolong, lemon, sparkling water.
Iced black tea with lychee
Strong black tea, chilled, with crushed lychee.
Matcha stays caffeinated: read about matcha and its caffeine.
Classic mistakes
Over-steeped tea
Harsh tannins no sugar can fix.
Water too hot for matcha or green tea
Aim for 70 to 80 °C.
Forgotten dilution
Use a concentrated base.
Sugar that crushes the tea
Start with less syrup.
Caffeine and alcohol: what to know
Tea cocktails contain caffeine; alcohol does not cancel it, and caffeine does not reduce the effects of alcohol. Drink in moderation.
Where to taste a tea cocktail in Paris?
MAISON LE TÊ, a Franco-Taiwanese restaurant on rue Saint-Maur, builds its menu around Taiwanese tea. A good start for a tea-centred afterwork.
Want to taste before you shake? MAISON LE TÊ’s tea cocktails await you on rue Saint-Maur
Discover the afterworkAlcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink responsibly.
Tea cocktails: your questions
Can you put tea in a cocktail?
Yes: it adds tannins, balance and aroma.
Which tea for a gin cocktail?
Matcha or jasmine green tea.
Does matcha mix with alcohol?
It stays in suspension: sift and shake hard.
How long to infuse tea in alcohol?
Minutes to about an hour, tasting as you go.
Does a tea cocktail contain caffeine?
Yes, and alcohol does not cancel it.
Are there alcohol-free tea cocktails?
Yes: matcha tonic, sparkling oolong, iced black tea with lychee.
Going further
From shaker to bar: our page on the cocktail au thé presents the MAISON LE TÊ afterwork, 136 rue Saint-Maur, Paris 11th.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink responsibly.