Cocktail Friday: Green Tea and Ginger Martini

by Tokyo Terrace on June 5, 2009

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Cocktail Friday had to come a little early this week. We are leaving tomorrow (holy criminy!) for San Francisco, so I wouldn’t be able to post this in time. Since I’m sure you are all on the edge of your seats waiting to find out the next cocktail from the Tokyo Terrace, I thought I’d go ahead and be early rather than late.

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Tonight was our last night with our Tokyo “family”. Somehow, we have officially made it through 9 months of this sometimes crazy, often confusing, and deliciously intriguing country.

To celebrate, I created a martini with the amazing experiences we have shared this year in mind (and to create an excuse to see friends on last time before parting ways for the summer). It was a no-brainer, really. Two classics: green tea and ginger.

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The green tea in Japan is entirely different than the green tea typically found in the United States. There is something more natural about its flavor. Green tea is sold in bottles in all of the vending machines here (a much healthier option than the usual Coca-Cola, that’s for sure). The tea is iced and is a lifesaver in the summer heat and humidity.

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The ginger flavor comes from a ginger simple syrup. Instead of chopping the ginger, I decided to grate it. I wanted a stronger ginger flavor and grating it helps bring out the fresh taste without taking too much time.

These signature flavors of Japan blend together to create a clean and bright martini that is perfect for hot summer evenings with your favorite people.

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We had a nice time sharing happy memories of our past year in Tokyo and discussing our summer plans while sipping these marvelous martinis. What is is about happy hour that brings people together?

Green Tea and Ginger Martini

Makes 4

12 oz. vodka

8 oz. iced green tea

4 tablespoons ginger simple syrup (recipe below)

lemon wedges

ice

Fill a martini shaker with ice. Add the vodka, green tea, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously (excellent way to relieve stress, by the way). Pour into 4 chilled martini glasses and garnish with the lemon wedges.

Ginger Simple Syrup

Makes 1/3 cup

6 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup water

Peel the ginger and grate using a microplane. In a small, heavy saucepan, add the sugar, water and ginger over medium high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Allow the syrup to reach a steady simmer, stirring constantly. When the syrup begins to reduce, cook for 1 minute more (use your best judgement- if it seems done, it probably is). The mixture should resemble the consistency of maple syrup.

Pour into a glass bowl and allow to cool. Can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in an airtight container.


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  • Rebecca

    GREAT MINDS (and sisters) THINK ALIKE!!!!
    Right now I am sipping a ginger-ale made with the homemade ginger syrup (ginger+honey+water) I bottled and stored in the fridge a couple of days ago!

  • Rebecca

    GREAT MINDS (and sisters) THINK ALIKE!!!!
    Right now I am sipping a ginger-ale made with the homemade ginger syrup (ginger+honey+water) I bottled and stored in the fridge a couple of days ago!

  • http://imadumpling.wordpress.com/ imadumpling

    Green tea and ginger sounds like a refreshing combination. Asian cocktails always have a fresh, not overly sweet taste to them.

  • http://imadumpling.wordpress.com imadumpling

    Green tea and ginger sounds like a refreshing combination. Asian cocktails always have a fresh, not overly sweet taste to them.

  • oysterculture

    bring on the cocktail time, what a great way to start a weekend, and if you do it early, so much the better

  • oysterculture

    bring on the cocktail time, what a great way to start a weekend, and if you do it early, so much the better

  • http://tokyodrinkingglass.blogspot.com/ mel

    Great great! It’s so funny, but I’ve been exploring the world of cocktails in Tokyo as well and discovering some interesting stuff.

    Too bad you’re gone but please give me a buzz when you return. Have a wonderful trip!

  • http://tokyodrinkingglass.blogspot.com mel

    Great great! It’s so funny, but I’ve been exploring the world of cocktails in Tokyo as well and discovering some interesting stuff.

    Too bad you’re gone but please give me a buzz when you return. Have a wonderful trip!

  • kissmyspatula

    green tea and ginger in a cocktail – brilliant! i love it! have a fabulous time in san francisco – can’t wait to hear all about it when you return. safe travels!

  • kissmyspatula

    green tea and ginger in a cocktail – brilliant! i love it! have a fabulous time in san francisco – can’t wait to hear all about it when you return. safe travels!

  • Kaylyn

    Hi Guys! I love the blog! I cant believe what those kitchens look like! I have worked in alot of kitchens and none of them looked quite like that! haha

    I hope you guys are having a great time! We cant wait to see you guys soon! Grace is getting so big! She is gonna be 2 in July. It is so much fun!

    Miss you guys!

  • Kaylyn

    Hi Guys! I love the blog! I cant believe what those kitchens look like! I have worked in alot of kitchens and none of them looked quite like that! haha

    I hope you guys are having a great time! We cant wait to see you guys soon! Grace is getting so big! She is gonna be 2 in July. It is so much fun!

    Miss you guys!

  • http://hollysreciperepository.blogspot.com/ Holly

    What a fabulous martini!

  • http://hollysreciperepository.blogspot.com/ Holly

    What a fabulous martini!

  • http://www.sweetsfoods.com/ Gera @ SweetsFoods

    I adore green tea specially iced but never tasted with ginger an less all together in a cocktail, really fantastic!

    Have a safe and wonderful trip :)

    Cheers for you!

    Gera

  • http://www.sweetsfoods.com/ Gera @ SweetsFoods

    I adore green tea specially iced but never tasted with ginger an less all together in a cocktail, really fantastic!

    Have a safe and wonderful trip :)

    Cheers for you!

    Gera

  • http://livetheblife.com/ Kori (All Things B.)

    Two of my favorite things are green tea and vodka, so this is a logical love for me! Hope your travels were safe!

  • http://livetheblife.com Kori (All Things B.)

    Two of my favorite things are green tea and vodka, so this is a logical love for me! Hope your travels were safe!

  • http://thesophisticatedgourmet.blogspot.com/ Kamran Siddiqi

    Rachael, oh how I wish I was 21! I hope your trip went well.

  • http://thesophisticatedgourmet.blogspot.com/ Kamran Siddiqi

    Rachael, oh how I wish I was 21! I hope your trip went well.

  • mari

    Thanks for a great recipe! This would be great as non-alcoholic drink… When it gets hot again here in SF and have to survive the heat w/o aircon, (it’s foggy and cold today), I’ll definitely try it!

  • mari

    Thanks for a great recipe! This would be great as non-alcoholic drink… When it gets hot again here in SF and have to survive the heat w/o aircon, (it’s foggy and cold today), I’ll definitely try it!

  • tokyoterrace

    Mari: It would definitely work as a non-alcoholic drink! Check out my new post about our first day in San Francisco- we loved it!

  • tokyoterrace

    Mari: It would definitely work as a non-alcoholic drink! Check out my new post about our first day in San Francisco- we loved it!

  • tokyoterrace

    Kamran: All in good time, my friend :) The good news is that when you are 21 you will have a great collection of cocktails to try!!

  • tokyoterrace

    Kamran: All in good time, my friend :) The good news is that when you are 21 you will have a great collection of cocktails to try!!

  • tokyoterrace

    So true, sister! It’s like we’re related or something… wait…

  • tokyoterrace

    So true, sister! It’s like we’re related or something… wait…

  • tokyoterrace

    This one was perfect. The day we had them it was muggy and a little rainy. This cocktail helped to freshen us up a bit in the midst of what would have otherwise been a pretty crummy evening.

  • tokyoterrace

    This one was perfect. The day we had them it was muggy and a little rainy. This cocktail helped to freshen us up a bit in the midst of what would have otherwise been a pretty crummy evening.

  • tokyoterrace

    I can’t wait to hear about your discoveries in the world of cocktails in Tokyo! When we get back to Tokyo, we should hook up and find some great places!

  • tokyoterrace

    Thanks Kaylyn! I’m so glad you are reading!! Can’t wait to see you and the rest of the family in July! So close!!!

  • tokyoterrace

    I can’t wait to hear about your discoveries in the world of cocktails in Tokyo! When we get back to Tokyo, we should hook up and find some great places!

  • tokyoterrace

    Thanks Kaylyn! I’m so glad you are reading!! Can’t wait to see you and the rest of the family in July! So close!!!

  • tokyoterrace

    Perfect! I hope you are able to give it a try sometime soon!

  • tokyoterrace

    Gera: It did seem like sort of a foreign combination of things for a cocktail, but they melded together perfectly! I’m craving one right now in fact…

  • tokyoterrace

    Perfect! I hope you are able to give it a try sometime soon!

  • tokyoterrace

    Gera: It did seem like sort of a foreign combination of things for a cocktail, but they melded together perfectly! I’m craving one right now in fact…

  • Aaron Ward

    Another use for ginger simple syrup… it goes well on pancakes if you every “accidentally” make more than you need for the cocktail! My wife and I have also tried it on angelfood cake. Awesome!

  • Aaron Ward

    Another use for ginger simple syrup… it goes well on pancakes if you every “accidentally” make more than you need for the cocktail! My wife and I have also tried it on angelfood cake. Awesome!

  • tokyoterrace

    Early weekends are ALWAYS a good idea :)

  • tokyoterrace

    Early weekends are ALWAYS a good idea :)

  • tokyoterrace

    Your suggestions for San Francisco were perfect- totally made our trip!

  • tokyoterrace

    Your suggestions for San Francisco were perfect- totally made our trip!

  • tokyoterrace

    Hi Aaron! What a great idea to put the simple syrup on pancakes! I love it. Hope you are well!

  • tokyoterrace

    Hi Aaron! What a great idea to put the simple syrup on pancakes! I love it. Hope you are well!

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