Green tea shots are trendy cocktails that don’t contain actual green tea. Instead, these tasty pale green shooters are named for their appearance, which is similar to a cup of green tea. 

Below you’ll find a traditional green tea shot recipe as well as some delicious variations on the drink. Keep reading to learn more about green tea shot recipes and how to make them. 

What Is a Green Tea Shot? 

The Jameson green tea shot is an alcoholic drink made with simple ingredients (but no tea) that was invented by the Jameson whiskey company as a way for the company to expand its Irish whiskey market. 

Because of their pretty green color, many people mistakenly think that green tea shots contain green tea. While there are cocktails that do contain green tea, a green tea shot is not one of them. 

Instead, a green tea shot is a sweet-sour whiskey drink that is made with schnapps, a splash of lemon-lime soda, and sweet and sour mix. Green tea shots are named for their similar appearance to green tea, not their flavor. Its greenish color and fruity flavor have made it a popular party shooter for St. Patrick’s day gatherings. This combination of ingredients is also especially refreshing as a summer cocktail.

What Do Green Tea Shots Taste Like? 

Green tea shots have a bright, citrusy sour flavor with a sweet peach flavor thanks to the inclusion of peach schnapps. 

With their slightly sour taste, green tea shots are considered to be a nice palate cleanser compared to other cocktails. It’s also a great way to drink whiskey for drinkers who may not like the taste of it straight. 

This post may contain affiliate links. My full disclosure policy is sort of boring, but you can find it here.

What are the Main Ingredients in a Green Tea Shot? 

Green tea shots typically contain the following ingredients: 

• Irish whiskey: Jameson Irish whiskey is the traditional whiskey used in green tea shots, but American whiskey and Japanese whiskey can easily be substituted. 
• Peach schnapps: Schnapps is a liqueur that is often flavored with different kinds of fruit, in this case peaches. Schnapps offers a sweet counterpoint to the sour flavors present in this shot. 
• Lemon-lime soda: 7-Up and Sprite are popular lemon-lime soda options for making green tea shots. Fresh citrus juice, simple syrup, and club soda can also be used instead of the splash of Sprite.
• Sweet and sour mix: This mixer is a combination of lime juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and water. This mixer is a popular addition to cocktails like margaritas and whiskey sours. This mixer is readily available at grocery stores or any liquor store. 

Since this cocktail is made with only four simple green tea shot ingredients, it is an easy recipe to pull off even for novice mixologists. Check out the recipes below to learn how to make green tea shots. 

What’s the Alcohol content of a Green Tea Shot?

A single shot is made up of equal parts schnapps and whiskey, making up one ounce of alcohol. Peach schnapps ranges from 30-40 proof or 15%-20% alcohol by volume (ABV). Jameson is typically 80 proof, or 40% ABV. So the combined shot lands somewhere in the middle at about 55 proof or 28% ABV.

Is there caffeine in a Green Tea Shot?

Because there is no actual tea in this green tea shooter, there is 0 mg of caffeine in each shot. So they won’t keep you awake. 😉

Is a Green Tea Shot good for you?

You can’t depend on the health benefits of tea here since this cocktail contains no actual tea. While it won’t help prevent heart disease, this cocktail recipe is pretty tasty.

If you’re concerned about your sugar intake, you might want to stick to a simple whiskey shot since the sweet and sour mix and soda do tack on additional calories. If you make your own homemade sour mix, it might provide a slight amount of vitamin C.

Classic Green Tea Shot Recipe

To make a traditional green tea shot, follow these simple steps:

Green tea shot ingredients & supplies

• Cocktail shaker
• 1/2 ounce whiskey
• 1/2 ounce peach schnapps
• 1/2 ounce sour mix
• Splash of lemon-lime soda
• Ice cubes
• Shot glasses for serving 

Instructions

1. Mix the whisky, peach schnapps, sour mix, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake thoroughly for 10-30 seconds. 
2. Strain the green tea shot mix into a shot glass or cocktail glass, then top off with a splash of lemon-lime soda. Serve immediately. 

How to make a batch of party shots

Since the ratios of whiskey, schnapps and mixer are equal, it’s super easy to make this little drink for your next party. You can make a pitcher ahead and just add the soda before serving.

1. Add equal parts whiskey, schnapps, and sour mix to a pitcher.
2. When ready to serve, add to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake.
3. Pour into shot glasses and top off with soda
4. Serve immediately.

Variations on Green Tea Shots

There are a couple of variations on the green tea shot that you can try if you’re not into Irish whiskey. Here are two major swaps on green tea shots that will give you a different flavor profile. 

White Tea Shot

A white tea shot is almost identical to a green tea shot, but replace the Jameson Irish whiskey with clear vodka instead. This results in a lighter-colored shot with a more mild flavor. 

You can use different flavored vodkas for even more riffs on the basic white tea shot recipe. Citrus-flavored vodka or peach-flavored vodka are good choices. 

Spanish Tea Shot

Instead of Irish whiskey, a Spanish tea shot uses silver tequila instead. 

Spanish tea shots have a similar flavor profile to margaritas, except they are slightly sweeter due to the inclusion of peach schnapps. 

Spanish tea shots are also sometimes made with fresh lime juice and simple syrup rather than sour mix.

Are There Shots or Cocktails That Contain Green Tea? 

Even though green tea shots don’t contain green tea, there are still plenty of other cocktails that include green tea as an ingredient. 

Here are a few of the other shots and cocktails you can make that actually use green tea as one of their main components (Source: Insanely Good Recipes) : 

• Gin Goblin: A Gin Goblin is a green tea cocktail that mixes green tea with gin and muddled cucumber.
• Green tea and vodka: Vodka makes a good spirit pairing with green tea in cocktails since it has a mild flavor that can be covered by the grassy flavor of the tea.
• Green Goddess: The Green Goddess is a green tea cocktail that mixes the tea with absinthe and arugula syrup for a drink that has an almost peppery, savory flavor. 
• Green Tea Margarita: The earthy flavors of green tea pair well with the sweet and sour flavors of a traditional margarita. 

These are only a handful of the different drinks that you can make by adding green tea to your cocktail shaker. 

If you want to add a bright green hue and a powerful nutritional boost to your afternoon cocktails, try some of these alternative “green tea shots.” 

Green Tea Shots Are a Party Pleaser

Green tea shot recipes are a great place to start if you’re looking for an easy cocktail shot that can be made in large volumes for a party. 

These pale green cocktails are one of the most popular drinks you can serve, so be sure to whip up a batch for your next party!