This Matcha Green Tea Smoothie recipe is perfect for a light breakfast or a healthy snack! It’s made with matcha and hemp seeds for some added protein so this smoothie will keep you feeling full and satisfied!

two glasses of matcha smoothie

Matcha is not only great for drinking as a tea or latte, but it’s an amazing ingredient that can be used in a variety of recipes. Since matcha is a powder, it’s easier to add to recipes to give them a hint of matcha flavour and an extra nutritional boost.

Matcha makes a great addition to your breakfast and can easily be added to oatmeal, chia pudding and smoothies.

Matcha does have caffeine in it, so I recommend enjoying this smoothie earlier in the day and to avoid it as a late afternoon or evening snack if caffeine tends to keep you up.

What is matcha?

Matcha is a premium green tea powder sourced from Japan that is made by grinding the actual tea leaves into a fine powder. This powder can then be mixed with hot water to make a traditional matcha tea or can be used directly in other recipes.

Because Matcha is made from the entire leaves, it has a higher amount of caffeine and antioxidants than regular green tea.

Matcha comes in many different qualities that you can buy, from ceremonial grade (the highest quality), premium grade (high quality), and culinary grade (lowest quality).

Why You’ll Love This Matcha Smoothie Recipe

  • Healthy breakfast. This smoothie makes a great light and healthy breakfast with 6 grams of fibre and 5 grams of protein per serving.
  • Energizing. The matcha in the smoothie will give you a steady caffeine boost and will make you feel energized to take on the day.
  • Quick and easy. This recipe comes together in just 5 minutes and can be modified with any of your favourite fruits.

Ceremonial vs. culinary grade matcha

Matcha comes in a couple of different varieties or “grades.” Put simply, some matcha powders are better quality than others. Let’s review the two primary grades of matcha here. You can use whichever type of matcha you prefer in your smoothies.

Ceremonial grade matcha

Ceremonial grade matcha is made for drinking and is considered the highest quality matcha. This grade of matcha is made with the youngest tea leaves and has a very smooth, sweet and creamy taste. Ceremonial grade matcha also usually has a much more vibrant green colour compared to culinary grade matcha.

Culinary grade matcha

Culinary grade matcha is still good quality but is made differently than ceremonial matcha. This type of matcha tends to have a slightly more bitter and robust flavour. As the name suggests culinary grade matcha is the type of matcha often used in cooking, smoothies and lattes.

What fruit goes well with matcha powder?

I find that tropical fruits go best with matcha and really compliment the flavour.

This Matcha Green Tea Smoothie uses a mix of banana and mango, but some other great options you can try are pineapple, passionfruit and papaya.

If you want to keep the smoothie a rich green colour, make sure to use light-coloured fruits as opposed to darker fruits like blueberries. If you don’t mind a darker-coloured smoothie, you can use a mix of berries like blueberries, raspberries and blackberries for a smoothie that is high in antioxidants.

Matcha Smoothie Ingredients

ingredients to make a matcha smoothie
  • Frozen bananas: It’s best to use frozen bananas as opposed to fresh bananas in this recipe. Frozen bananas will give the smoothie a thick and creamy texture. To freeze your bananas, simply wait until they are your preferred ripeness, then peel them, cut them into pieces and place them in a freezer bag in the freezer overnight.
  • Mango: The mango in this recipe can be used fresh since the bananas are already frozen. Mango gives a tropical sweetness to the smoothie. If you prefer pineapple, you could use that too.
  • Spinach: An optional ingredient, but gives the smoothie some added “hidden” veggies and an extra nutritional boost!
  • Matcha powder: The star ingredient! Matcha is high in antioxidants and is perfect to enjoy in the morning. If you find the taste of matcha quite strong, start with just 1-2 tsp of matcha powder. If you prefer a stronger tasting matcha smoothie, simply add another 1-2 tsp.
  • Hemp seeds: One tablespoon of hemp seeds has approx. 4 grams of protein! The hemp seeds blend up nicely into the smoothie and don’t add any taste, but they are great for adding protein and fibre to this smoothie!
  • Almond milk: You can use any type of milk you like in this recipe.
  • Sweetener of choice: Another optional ingredient. If your fruit isn’t quite sweet enough, you may want to add a touch of maple syrup or agave to the smoothie. If you’re using sweet bananas and mangos, you probably won’t need any additional sweetener.

How to make this Matcha Green Tea Smoothie Recipe

Step 1

Add the mango, banana, spinach, matcha, hemp seeds and almond milk to a blender.

Spinach, matcha, banana and hemp seeds in a blender

Step 2

Blend on high until everything is well combined and smooth. Then pour into a glass and enjoy!

matcha smoothie in a blender

Tips for Making This Matcha Green Tea Smoothie Perfectly

  • Use a good quality matcha powder. The matcha should have a rich green colour. This will make a big difference in both the taste and the benefits the matcha will have.
  • Use some frozen fruit. If you use all fresh fruit, the smoothie won’t become thick and creamy. It’s best to use at least half if not all frozen fruit.
  • Cut your bananas into pieces before freezing them. This will make the bananas easier to blend up.
  • Depending on the size of your fruit and your preferred smoothie texture, you may need more or less almond milk in the recipe. Start with less and add more as you blend if needed.

Matcha Smoothie FAQ

Can I make this matcha smoothie ahead of time?

Any smoothie is best enjoyed fresh for the best taste, but if needed you can prepare this smoothie 1-2 hours ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Just make sure to shake it up before serving.

How much caffeine is in this matcha smoothie?

This will depend on how much matcha powder you add to the smoothie. Each teaspoon of matcha has approximately 68 milligrams of caffeine. An average cup of coffee has approximately 100 milligrams of caffeine.

Is powdered matcha good for you?

Yes! Matcha powder is packed with antioxidants and is very healthy for you. For the best quality matcha use ceremonial grade matcha. It should be a vibrant green colour.

Is matcha effective in smoothies?

Matcha powder can be enjoyed hot or cold and added directly to drinks or food since it’s a powder that will easily dissolve. This makes it a great option to add to your morning smoothie. Remember that matcha does contain caffeine, so if you’re sensitive to caffeine it’s best to drink this smoothie in the morning.

What are the benefits of matcha powder in smoothies?

* High in antioxidants
* Can boost brain functioning
* Improves focus
* Can promote weight loss
* Give you energy

two matcha smoothies on a marble counter

More smoothie recipes to try

If you tried this Matcha Green Tea Smoothie or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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two glasses of matcha smoothie

Matcha Smoothie

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 5 minuts
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 smoothies 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Blend
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This Matcha Green Tea Smoothie is perfect for a light and healthy breakfast!

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy. 
  2. If the smoothie is too thick, add a bit more almond milk. 
  3. Optionally top off this smoothie with a dusting of matcha powder and some hemp seeds. 

Notes

Use a good quality matcha powder. The matcha should have a rich green colour. This will make a big difference in both the taste and the benefits the matcha will have.

Cut your bananas into pieces before freezing them. This will make the bananas easier to blend up.

Depending on the size of your fruit and your preferred smoothie texture, you may need more or less almond milk in the recipe. Start with less and add more as you blend if needed.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 smoothie
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 24g
  • Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: `
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Fiber: 6g
  • Protein: 5g