Southside Sips: Mean Green Matcha Martini

If 2025 had any unstoppable trend we couldn’t get away from, it was the mountains of matcha that seemed to be everywhere. It actually didn’t just come from nowhere. From Dunkin’ Donuts to McDonald’s to Panera and Starbucks, it’s been pretty easy getting green this past year. It’s a trend taken from traditional Japanese tea ceremony that’s been growing in the U.S. for a good decade or so, as the fascination with really dialing in your daily cuppa can be taken to new whisked heights via the pulverized, powdered, bitter green tea.

Even cocktail culture got in on it. Case in point: Our Southside Sips from the September/October print issue, where we featured Westhampton Beach coffee and cocktails den One Trick Pony and their most excellent matcha-dusted Hokkaido Pony.

Before 2026 sweeps you away with vinegar and tahini (and who knows what else that will capture the public’s fickle attention), we’ve got one more must-try match entry for you to mix up at home: the Mean Green Martini.

Made with gin (as this recipe comes from our friends over at Bombay, we heartily recommend picking up a bottle of their Bombay Sapphire from Bridgehampton Wine Cellar, Water Mill Wines & Spirits or pretty much any of your favorite spirits purveyors), it takes on some seemingly unusual sweet-leaning elements, but their presence offsets the bitterness of the matcha powder and botanical-leaning main spirit employed here.

Remember to be a little extra shaky-shaky when you’re mixing this up in your shaker — matcha definitely benefits from whipping or vigorous shaking, so consider this part of your new 2026 workout regime (because we do love multitasking over here at Southforker…). Cheers, friends!