This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.
The next time you need a pick-me-up, try this energizing Matcha Smoothie. It’s made with just a handful ingredients that you may already have on hand, and it takes only minutes to blend together!
Benefits of Matcha
Unlike traditional green tea, which is steeped in water, matcha is made from ground green tea leaves— so the whole leaf is consumed. This makes it high in antioxidants, and gives it a stronger “green tea” flavor when you drink it.
Here’s why I love matcha:
- It’s rich in catechins, which are thought to act as antioxidants. According to this study, matcha has at least 3 times the catechins compared to other varieties of green tea.
- Green tea may help promote liver health! In a review of 15 studies, drinking green tea has been associated with a lower risk of liver disease.
- It may aid in brain health. In one small study, 2 grams of green tea powder was shown to boost brain activity in older participants in 3 months.
- Green tea extract may help to slow the growth of cancer cells. In a rat study, green tea extract was shown to slow tumor growth of breast cancer, and in test tube studies the ECGC in matcha may help with lung cancer and skin cancer, too.
What I love about matcha is that you don’t have to wait for it to steep like traditional green tea. You can drink it as soon as it’s cool enough to handle. (Try my 3-minute Matcha Latte for a fast morning option!)
Which Fruit Goes Well with Matcha?
Matcha has a strong flavor when you serve it as a latte, but it’s pretty mild when you add it to a smoothie, so your options are wide open! Here’s what I’ve tried with this blend so far:
- Frozen bananas
- Mango chunks
- Pineapple
- Ginger (adds a nice pop of spice!)
- Frozen blueberries
- Dates (for a neutral flavor)
If you add an ingredient that has a very strong flavor, like orange juice or raspberries, you won’t be able to taste the matcha at all. So keep that in mind! As written, this recipe has a very mild flavor, because I like to keep the caffeine content low.
How Much Caffeine is in a Matcha Smoothie?
You are in total control of how much caffeine goes into this smoothie. A 1/2 teaspoon of matcha powder has roughly 30-35mg of caffeine, which is about the same amount you’d get by drinking an 8 oz. cup of green tea. For reference, the average cup of brewed coffee has about 95mg of caffeine.
You can add more or less caffeine by adjusting the amount of matcha that you use in your smoothie. Make sure you check the nutrition label on your matcha package if you need to monitor the amount closely.
As written, this recipe makes a slightly thick smoothie with an ice-cream like texture when you use frozen fruit. If you use fresh fruit, make sure to use less liquid so it won’t be too runny.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water (or almond milk)
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/4 avocado
- 1 cup frozen mango
- 1/2 inch fresh ginger , peeled (optional; add to taste)
- 1 big handful fresh baby spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a high-speed blender, and blend until smooth. Add more water, if needed to blend, and taste it before you serve. You can always add a squeeze of honey or a pitted date for more sweetness, if needed.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information above is for the whole batch.
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it! And if you make any modifications, please let me know how that turns out for you, too. We can all benefit from hearing about your experience.
–
Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite way to use Matcha? Be sure to try my Matcha Cookies if you haven’t yet!
I have not tried this recipe yet, but if I wanted to add a plant-based protein powder would it be better to do unavored or vanilla?
This smoothie is already sweet, so you might prefer the unflavored protein powder. But feel free to experiment!
Made this morning, delicious! I’m tipping the glass to get it all!
Best smoothie ever and with a kick of caffeine! I don’t like the thick texture so instead of two frozen fruits I only put frozen mango and fresh banana 🍌 yum!
This was great. My husband and I both enjoyed it. Thanks for the great recipe!
This is so delicious! I can’t really taste the matcha, but it’s still bright, refreshing, and super-yummy. Definitely good for a pick-me-up. Instead of avocado I added some chia seeds because, no matter what I make, I can always detect the avocado flavor. So, I just reserve avocados for salads, guacamole, and salad dressings. Thanks for another wonderful recipe.
WOW, this is my new favorite smoothie! It’s so delicious! The consistency is perfect and it’s absolutely delicious! I LOVE the matcha taste!
Sounds great, I am going to try this tomorrow
I’ve said this before, but you have the best “smoothie” consistency of all the online smoothies. They are perfect and always delicious. Thank you
This matcha smoothie is so good! It was exactly what I needed for an afternoon boost, and I didn’t find that the caffeine affected my sleep later.