Matcha Smoothie
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This healthy matcha smoothie is a great way to pack nutrients into your day and get a serious energy boost! It’s loaded with simple ingredients like sweet bananas, optional leafy greens, and sharp matcha powder for a well-balanced drink.
Love this? Check 25 Best Detox Smoothie Recipes and 15 High Calorie Smoothies For Weight Gain.
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If you want to add a major antioxidant hit to your daily routine, then this matcha smoothie has GOT you.
The first time I blended this up, I felt so energized I breezed through my morning workout like it was a walk in the park!
It contains a perfect balance of high-quality matcha, sweet frozen fruit, and healthy plant milk to fuel you for hours.
And hey, it pairs beautifully with glorious egg muffins or a bowlful of granola!
Plus, just look at that gorgeous green hue – now that’s a beautiful breakfast to start your day.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a type of green tea that’s milled into a fine powder made from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
It’s usually dissolved or whisked into hot water to make traditional green tea or added to coffees and blended drinks.
Is Matcha Healthy?
Matcha offers some major health benefits as it’s packed with antioxidants that help your body fight free radicals.
Plus, it also improves brain health, aids weight loss, calms the nervous system, and reduces your risk of heart disease!
It’s definitely an ingredient you’ll want to add to your weekly shopping list.
How to Choose Quality Matcha
The highest quality matcha (sometimes called ceremonial grade matcha) will be a vibrant green color with a fine and silky texture.
If it’s brown, yellow, or dark green, then you’re dealing with a lower-quality product.
If you are not sure about which one to buy, this is one of my favorites, and this one is great value.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Unsweetened almond milk: I find that almond milk gives this smoothie a rich, velvety texture. But you can use any plant milk, like rice, soy, or cashew (regular dairy milk is fine, too!).
- Frozen banana: Using frozen banana thickens up the smoothie and gives it tons of natural sweetness. Make sure you use a ripe banana, as the extra sugariness will help to balance the matcha flavor. It’s also easier to blend and makes a creamier smoothie!
- Matcha green tea powder: Sometimes known as green tea powder, matcha is super antioxidant-rich and helps to strengthen your immune system. Plus, it gives this smoothie its signature green look!
- Fresh spinach (optional): For a dose of iron, fiber, folate, and vitamins A + C.
- Hemp seeds (optional): This ingredient adds an extra nutritional boost to your smoothie along with a couple of grams of protein. It’s also loaded with antioxidants and fatty acids!
- Maple syrup (optional): Just be warned that matcha is slightly bitter, so you may want to add a sweetener if the fruit isn’t enough. Honey or any other natural sweetener will work equally well!
How to Make a Matcha Smoothie
- Pop your ingredients in the blender: Put all the ingredients into a high-powered blender and leave the matcha until last. This stops it from sticking to the bottom of the blender.
- Blend, blend, blend: Blitz on high until the mixture is smooth and creamy. You might need to pause and scrape down the sides of the blender to make sure everything gets blended. You’re aiming for zero lumps!
- Taste and adjust the flavors: Taste your smoothie and add a sweetener if necessary. If it’s too thick, throw in a splash of milk and blend again until you reach your preferred smoothie texture.
- Serve and enjoy: Pour your smoothie into a tall glass and serve immediately with a few energy balls or oatcakes!
Customizing Your Matcha Smoothie
I love replacing the hemp seeds with flax or chia seeds, but a few shaved almonds are also perfect and full of healthy fats and protein!
Tropical fruits like frozen mangoes, pineapples, or oranges are also delicious additions to this smoothie. Just stick with light-colored frozen fruit if you can, or your smoothie may lose its vibrant green appearance.
If your smoothie isn’t thick or cold enough for your liking, add a handful of ice cubes, almond butter, or Greek yogurt to the mix. Trust me, it’s the perfect alternative to a matcha latte for summer.
Oh, and if you’re feeling fancy, a spoonful of whipped coconut cream on top is amazing!
Can You Make This Smoothie Ahead?
You can meal prep this matcha smoothie, but I honestly find it’s better enjoyed fresh. And that’s because the texture will deteriorate slightly over time.
If you’re making it for a quick breakfast the next day, it should be fine in an airtight container for a few hours.
FAQ
Matcha has a unique flavor that is earthy, slightly bitter, and a bit grassy.
High-quality matcha tends to be less bitter and more sweet and creamy, while lower-quality matcha can be more astringent and bitter.
Yes, matcha does contain caffeine. In fact, because matcha is made from ground-up whole tea leaves, it contains more caffeine than regular brewed green tea.
A typical serving of matcha (about 1 teaspoon of matcha powder) contains roughly 35mg of caffeine, but this can vary depending on the specific matcha used.
The main difference between matcha and regular green tea lies in how they’re produced and consumed.
Matcha is made from green tea leaves that are grown in the shade to increase their chlorophyll content, then ground into a fine powder.
This powder is mixed with hot water and consumed entirely, which means you’re consuming the whole leaf.
Regular green tea, on the other hand, is typically brewed and the leaves are discarded, meaning you only consume the extract.,
Yes, you can first mix matcha with a small amount of hot (but not boiling) water to create a paste before adding it to your smoothie.
This can help it blend better and prevent clumps from forming. However, be aware that this may warm your smoothie, so you might want to use extra frozen fruit or ice to keep it chilled.
Matcha smoothies can be a healthy part of a weight loss diet. Matcha itself contains a type of antioxidant called EGCG, which has been linked to potential weight loss benefits.
You should store matcha powder in a cool, dark place, away from light and oxygen, to preserve its color and quality.
Once you open it, you should consume it within a few weeks to a few months, as it can lose its flavor over time.
Some people store their matcha in the refrigerator, but if you do this, make sure it’s well-sealed to prevent moisture from getting in.
Why I Love This Matcha Smoothie
- It’s a great alternative to regular green tea for a healthy breakfast!
- Loaded with essential nutrients that’ll boost your energy level sky-high.
- It’s ready in minutes and takes just a couple of simple steps!
More Smoothie Recipes
- Energizing Green Smoothie
- Green Detox Smoothie
- Breakfast Date Smoothie
- Berry Smoothie
- Carrot Cake Smoothie
- Cottage Cheese Smoothie
If you try this matcha smoothie recipe, please leave a comment and a rating and let me know how much you liked it!
Matcha Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk - or any milk of your choice
- 1 frozen banana - note 1
- 1 cup spinach - optional, for an added nutrition boost
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds - optional
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup - optional (or honey or sweetener of choice) – feel free to add it if the fruit isn’t sweet enough (note 2)
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in your blender. Add the matcha green tea powder last to avoid it sticking to the bottom of the blender.
- Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and creamy. You might need to pause and scrape down the sides of the blender a couple of times to make sure everything gets blended.
- Taste the smoothie and adjust the sweetness if necessary. If the smoothie is too thick for your liking, you can add a little more milk and blend again.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately!
Notes
Nutrition
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