The Rise of Pandan Behind the Bar

For centuries, pandan has been one of Southeast Asia’s most beloved culinary ingredients. Across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Birma and the Philippines, pandan leaves are used to infuse rice, desserts and drinks with their unmistakable aroma.

But what started in the kitchen is now increasingly finding its way behind the bar.

Over the past decade, bartenders around the world have been discovering pandan as a powerful new flavor ingredient. With its unique aromatic profile and vibrant green color, pandan is quickly becoming one of the most exciting additions to modern cocktail culture.

Just as ingredients like matcha, yuzu and lemongrass made the transition from Asian kitchens to Western gastronomy, pandan is now making the same journey into cocktail bars.

The Emerald Green of Pandan

Beyond flavor, pandan offers something visually striking behind the bar: color. When pandan leaves are extracted or infused, they release a natural bright green pigment. In Southeast Asian cuisine this vibrant color has long been used in desserts, cakes and sweet drinks.

In cocktails, that same color creates a distinctive visual identity. Pandan cocktails often display a beautiful emerald green tone that immediately catches the eye. In today’s bar culture, where visual presentation and social media play an important role, this makes pandan drinks stand out on the menu and in the glass.

It is a natural color that instantly signals something different and intriguing to guests.

How Bartenders Use Pandan in Cocktails

Bartenders have discovered several ways to introduce pandan into their drinks. Some of the most common methods include: Pandan syrups, Pandan infusions and Pandan liqueurs. Thanks to its versatility, pandan works well in many cocktail styles, including:

• tropical cocktails

• modern highballs

• dessert cocktails

• contemporary twists on classic drinks

For bartenders, pandan opens a door to new flavor combinations while remaining approachable for guests.

Bandoeng’22: Bringing Pandan to the Bar

Bandoeng’22 Pandan Liqueur was created with this crossover in mind. Inspired by Indonesian heritage and crafted in Schiedam, the Netherlands, Bandoeng’22 brings the aroma of pandan from the Asian kitchen into modern mixology.

The flavor is inspired by the pandan dishes and drinks many people grew up with, often made with pandan, coconut, palm sugar and spices from the traditional Indonesian Rempah spice cabinet.

Combined with its distinctive emerald green color, Bandoeng’22 makes it easy for bartenders to introduce pandan into cocktails, from simple highballs to creative signature serves.

A Flavor with a Global Future

As global gastronomy continues to evolve, ingredients once rooted in regional cuisines are becoming part of a shared culinary language. Pandan is now following the same path as matcha, yuzu and other Asian ingredients that have found their place in modern hospitality. From the kitchens of Southeast Asia to cocktail bars across Europe, the United States and Australia, pandan is steadily becoming a new favorite among bartenders.

With its aromatic complexity, visual appeal and deep cultural roots, pandan is more than just an ingredient. It is a new flavor story for modern cocktails.

Pandan Cocktail Recipes Created by Bartenders

Around the world, bartenders are experimenting with pandan in creative and unexpected ways. From tropical highballs and elegant sours to modern twists on classic cocktails, pandan offers endless possibilities behind the bar.

At Bandoeng’22 we collaborate with bartenders from different countries and cocktail cultures to develop unique pandan cocktail recipes. These creations range from drinks like the Pandan Daiquiri, Pandan Maid, Strawberry Pandan Margarita and Pandan Rice Negroni to more experimental signature serves developed by mixologists in cocktail bars across Europe and beyond.

Each recipe highlights a different aspect of pandan’s character — its aromatic sweetness, its compatibility with spirits like rum, gin or tequila, and of course its distinctive emerald-green appearance in the glass.

If you’re a bartender looking for inspiration, explore our collection of pandan cocktail recipes created by bartenders