Invigorating Chinese Drinks Recipe

Last updated December 22, 2022

I love celebrating the new year with my friends and family, but I often find it difficult to choose the best cocktails for the night. Because of this, I often find myself looking to other cultural drinks for some inspiration.

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In China, they celebrate the Lunar New Year during the spring and the festivities are always brimming with exotic foods (you will enjoy this exotic Chinese Seafood Delight Recipe cause of its delicious taste), rich desserts (one of these is our delicious Durian Ice Cream Recipe) and delicious cocktails.

After learning about these Chinese drinks I tried making some from home – and I was not disappointed. Not only are these cocktails sweet, colorful and refreshing – but they are also incredibly easy to make and pack a powerful punch.

And because there are so many Chinese drinks to choose from, I have decided to choose 3 of my favorite cocktail recipes to share with you today.

So if you are bored of drinking champagne, these vibrant cocktails are the perfect addition to any new year celebration.

Green Dragon

I would argue that the Green Dragon is one of the best cocktails that China has to offer because it is so different from any other cocktail you have tried.

This emerald green drink combines the tart flavors of gin and orange bitters, with the smooth and creamy texture of creme de menthe.

But the most important ingredient in this cocktail is the Kummel, which helps to give the drink its signature taste. Kummel is made using caraway seeds and cumin, and the sweet liqueur helps to give the Green Dragon a dark and herbal flavor.

Although this cocktail can be delicious when prepared correctly, it does have an acquired taste that may not please everyone. I would recommend only making this cocktail for more serious and sophisticated drinkers.

Ingredients:

Gin (1 ½ ounce)
Green Creme de Menthe (½ ounce)
Kummel (½ ounce)
Lemon (half)
Orange Bitters (4 dashes)

Method:

Take the ingredients and add them to a cocktail shaker with a decent amount of ice.
Shake the ingredients thoroughly until well combined.
Strain the liquid into a chilled cocktail glass and it is ready to serve.

Lychee Nut

Lychees are becoming more and more popular across the Western world, and I can see why. These small fruits are packed with a unique floral flavor and they are delicious when added to desserts, cakes and cocktails.

The Lychee Nut takes fresh lychees and blends them with the rich flavors of dark rum and cherry brandy – creating a sweet and pungent cocktail that is both refreshing and addictive.

I would recommend making this cocktail for light drinkers, or people who just prefer to drink sweet and syrupy drinks. If I had to pick a quintessential Chinese cocktail, then I would choose the Lychee Nut every single time.

Ingredients:

Dark Rum (1 ounce)
Cherry brandy (¼ ounce)
Sweet and Sour (1 ounce)
Granulated Sugar (1 tsp)
Lychee Fruits (x3)

Method:

Take the ingredients and place them in a blender.
Blend the ingredients until they create a smooth and pale liquid.
Pour the cocktail mix into a cold Collins glass.
Garnish the cocktail with a slice of lime or a maraschino cherry.

Jade Cocktail

Jade is considered to be a precious substance in China, where the green gemstone is often associated with virtues such as justice, wisdom and purity. It also happens to lend its name to our next Chinese cocktail.

Known for its vibrant green color, the Jade Cocktail combines Midori and blue curacao with lime and bitters to create a sour and luscious drink. The cocktail is then topped with some champagne for a final touch of fizz.

Because this cocktail is sweet and tart, it is often a crowd-pleaser among friends and family and can be served at parties. I recommend serving some Jade Cocktails during the final countdown, as they are a delicious way to begin the new year.

Ingredients:

Midori (½ ounce)
Blue Curacao (½ ounce)
Lime Juice (½ ounce)
Angostura Bitters (dash)
Champagne (for topping)

Method:

Take a shaker and fill it with ice.
Pour in the Curacao, Midori, lime juice and bitters.
Shake the ingredients until well combined or until the shaker’s exterior becomes frosty.
Strain the mixture into a chilled Champagne flute.
Top the cocktail off with some cold Champagne.
Garnish the finished cocktail with a slice of lime or lemon.

China Blue

The China Blue is another cocktail that is sweetened using the rich and floral flavor of lychee fruit. Although this time the sweetness comes from lychee liqueur, which can be hard to find and may need to be ordered from a liquor store or website.

The cocktail takes its name from its rich blue color and can be made using only 3 simple ingredients. The China Blue is a sweet cocktail and is known for its refreshing and flowery aftertaste.

Because of its vibrancy and unique color, this cocktail will always turn heads at a party and its sweet flavor allows it to be enjoyed by even the pickiest of drinkers.

Ingredients:

White Grapefruit Juice (4 ounces)
Lychee Liqueur (¾ ounces)
Blue Curacao (1 ¼ ounce)

Method:

Take a Collins glass and fill it most of the way with ice.
Pour in the ingredients and stir until combined. (Shaking the ingredients could bruise the alcohol.)
Garnish the finished cocktail with a cherry or a slice of grapefruit.

Orange Blossom

The Orange Blossom is a Chinese cocktail that became a popular classic during the Prohibition era. The cocktail itself is made from combining orange juice with gin, however, some variations can make this drink even better.

The recipe down below takes the classic cocktail and adds in grenadine and lime juice for a sweeter and fragrant finish. However, if you don’t like grenadine then you can instead use simple syrup, Gomme syrup or even a splash of honey.

Because there are so many versions of this cocktail in circulation, you can test out what ingredients you enjoy. Most recipes like to make the cocktail sweeter, but if you prefer it sour just cut out the syrups.