Iced Watermelon Matcha #FoodieExtravaganza

Iced Watermelon Matcha recipe for #FoodieExtravaganza! Pureed watermelon is layered with matcha for a light and refreshing summer drink.

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#FOODIEEXTRAVAGANZA

Foodie Extravaganza is a monthly party hosted by bloggers who love food! Each month we incorporate one main ingredient or theme from The Nibble into recipes to share with you and Caroline of Caroline’s Cooking chose to celebrate National Watermelon Month for today’s event! Other foods celebrated in July include ice cream, macaroni, strawberry sundae, hot dog, milk chocolate, cotton candy, tequila, cheesecake, Caesar salad, and more.

If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. Posting day is alway the first Wednesday of the month. We would love to have you! If you’re a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board! Looking for our previous parties? Check them out HERE.

Iced Watermelon Matcha

To celebrate this event, I am sharing a recipe for an Iced Watermelon Matcha! Since moving to Los Angeles last summer, I have been amazed by the availability of matcha and how it has been incorporated into nearly every food and drink imaginable. While visiting Midori Matcha in Little Tokyo,  I tried their matcha with watermelon and it was such a light and refreshing drink perfect for summer. 

Matcha is a powder created by grinding whole green tea leaves. There are various grades. The higher quality grades are made from the fine, new leaves from the very top of the Camellia sinensis tea bush. Use the premium grades for drinking, while the lower culinary grades are fine for baking. Be careful when storing matcha. It can become stale and brownish when exposed to oxygen. I have been able to find matcha at the local Asian food markets and more recently in the tea section of larger supermarkets. It is also available on Amazon: Matcha Konomi and less expensive: Jade Leaf Matcha Green Tea Powder.

To create a smooth matcha, I first whisked the powder into 1/4 cup hot water until dissolved with no lumps. I poured the matcha into a cocktail shaker with ice and the remaining 3/4 cup cold water to blend the mixture even further. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can also whisk well and strain the mixture if needed. With the sweetness of the watermelon, I didn’t need to add any sugar at all. If you do want the drink a little sweeter, adjust to taste with a little honey or granulated sugar.

I came across Oh, How Civilized’s recipe and loved the presentation of the drink with the separated layers. It definitely looks better than the unfortunate color that results from mixing together the green matcha and red watermelon. I poured the pureed watermelon into the glass first. With the back of a spoon resting just above the watermelon puree, I very slowly poured the prepared matcha over the spoon to create the two distinct layers. I served the drink immediately topped with watermelon wedges, lemon slices, and fresh mint. 

Check out what everyone else made: 

Try these other tasty recipes with watermelon being shared for today’s Foodie Extravaganza:

• Beef and Watermelon Stir Fry from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Disneyland Watermelon Mint Julep from Simply Inspired Meals
• Iced Watermelon Matcha from Tara’s Multicultural Table
• Russian Pickled Watermelon from Pandemonium Noshery
• Spicy Watermelon Margarita from Caroline’s Cooking
• Vegan & Gluten Free Watermelon Jelly by Sneha’s Recipe
• Watermelon Cucumber Bites from Cookaholic Wife
• Watermelon Salad with Mint and Lime from Karen’s Kitchen Stories

Iced Watermelon Matcha Recipe

Adapted from Oh, How Civilized