They say, "write about what you know." Well in a food blogger's case, "blog what you eat." And so my Matcha Smoothie / Shake deserves one last salute before I officially welcome in this new fall season of crushed leaves, my Vaute Couture fall coat, crisp breezes and golden pumpkin daydreams.
Techie Side Note. Notice anything different today? Last night, my husband and I had quite a wild Saturday night - and you are viewing the remnants. If tech hangovers exist, I think I have one. Yes, more fun than clubbing, we stayed up until 2am making some big changes to my blog. And by BIG, I am most excited by the larger photo size possibilities. I hope you all like it too!
Today's recipe (the first in my new 700px image format!) is the 2.0 version of my Secret Ingredient Matcha Shake - a salute to my most-blended recipe of the summer 2012. Seriously guys, I have chopped and frozen more watermelon this summer than in my entire life just so that when morning dawns I am ready to blend up my Zen-tastic matcha smoothie / shake. Have you tried it yet? I hope you do..
I like to enjoy my matcha shakes in a morning sunbeam .. it makes me feel kind of like this..
Green is good. I know, I know. This shake is green. Very green. Due to the green tea matcha. But guess what - it tastes amazing. So if you are one of those people who gets scared off by all things green - please try this! You might be surprised how delicious green can taste.
Matcha is my favorite discovery of this year. It has officially stomped out my coffee cravings during the workweek. Instead of tall lattes - I crave green tea matcha. I do enjoy my soy latte from Le Pain Quotidien on the weekends. But it is even more of a treat to abstain from coffee all week and splurge for Saturday brunching.
Crave THIS - ZENergy..
And this matcha stuff is kind of magical - from my experience anyways. It is the ground up whole leaves of green tea - so you are getting more antioxidants than you would just drinking green tea via steeping a tea bag. And to be honest, I've never really like plain steeped green tea. But matcha smoothies drive me wild.
The powdery matcha has a tea-ish bitter taste with an accent of sweet - kind of like rice milk sweet. And when you blend it with sweet things like bananas and watermelon it takes on a whole new flavor that I am addicted to.
Some chia seeds too for added nutrition and texture.
I just may make this all fall long .. at least when chilly days come I can run to Urth Caffe and get a Warm Soy Mint Matcha Latte. Yes, that is a matcha art kitty cat...
Kathy's Matcha Shake
vegan, serves one
ΒΎ cup non-dairy milk, I use vanilla soy milk
1 cup watermelon cubes, frozen
1 ΒΌ bananas, frozen
Β½ - 2 teaspoon matcha green tea powder (I usually use about 1 tsp)
optional add-ins:
* vegan vanilla protein powder
* 1 teaspoon chia seeds
Pro-Tip: For a thicker shake use Β½ cup milk and blend in a high speed blender.
1. Blend the matcha + non-dairy milk on low for a minutes. Add in optional protein powder and/or chia seeds.
2. Turn off blender and add the watermelon and banana. Blend from low to high - using your high speed blender plunger to get the swirl blend going (yes, a vitamix or BlendTec blender will help make the thickest shakes - but any blender will work - you just may need to add a splash more liquid in a lower speed blender to get the blend moving.)
Serve and enjoy via a spoon.
I really hope you all love this blend as much as me. Dreamer: I want to open my own matcha food / smoothie truck and serve these babies to the masses.
Matcha Shake with a scoop of vanilla protein powder & a hint of spirulina too. Power shake..
Grab some matcha and try this shake! Amazon.com has good prices on matcha. Including one of my fave brands -> I love DoMatcha brand.
Learn more about MATCHA in my Green Tea Matcha Muffins post!
Jennifer Simon says
I found this on pinterest while looking for healthy popsicle recipes. Just ordered a mould that you use wooden sticks with instead of the built in sticks so I can make as many as I want. I love eating green and healthy and will definitely try this smoothie and even freeze some as popsicles. Maybe add some raw spinach and e3live (frozen live blue green algae that's literally the most nutritious food on the planet) I have a Blendtec blender and a juicer so I look forward making some crazy good popsicles with hidden superfoods to feed my daughter. Now all I need is the ice cream attachment for my kitchenaid mixer and I will be super set for summer when it rolls around. I love coconut ice cream but its so ridiculously expensive and home made would probably be mind blowing. I love how you use frozen watermelon in this recipe. I just put a watermelon on my shopping list. Frozen coconut water might be good too. I am so geeking out on healthy frozen treats right now.
Elizabeth Schwartz says
Dear Kathy,
I ADORE your blog and your cookbook- I swear, my stomach owes you BIG time! I love everything I have made by you- and this looks scrumptious! I actually bought watermelon this morning to go freeze for shakes/nicecream.... But I am a little reluctant. Does the watermelon flavor come through with the protein powder? I want the watermelon for the frosty and hydrating body but I still want it to taste like vanilla without being a fruity dessert- I was wondering since you use it in so many recipes. I look forward to trying it when the watermelon is frozen!!! Thanks for the yumminess! π
Kathy Patalsky says
Yes you can totally add protein powder and have it "mask" the fruity flavor if that is what you are going for. However the watermelon is very subtle. It is so delicious! Thank your for following my blog!
Aimee says
My sister bought me a tin of matcha on a business trip to Japan recently. It's my first experience with matcha and after having read your guide to matcha I knew right where to go for a recipe. This was amazing! I didn't even need to add sweetener. It was delicious. Thank you!!
Frances N Don Desjardins says
Avocado is a good substitute for Banana. Not a strong flavour, may taste more watermelon.
GoingVegan says
Just made this. It wasn't very green. Moire of a grey colour. It was milky (I used Almond milk) and the banana flavour was strong. Not what I was expecting, but tasty.
Lisa Henderson Griffin says
This sounds really delicious. I have matcha every morning. I like DoMatcha also, but have switched to Aiya Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha. I can get it in a larger size and it is really awesome. Thanks for the recipe. I have all the ingredients on hand and will try it in the morning!
Nicole Leanna says
This seems sooo delicious! I am in love with matcha, but alasβ I am cursed with a banana allergy π bizzarre and lame. Do you have any substitute suggestions?
Blythe says
Made this today and it was great! Kids didn't love the green tea taste, but probably best they don't get the caffeine anyway - they certainly don't need it! Pinned the recipe! Newly vegan and enjoying your blog!
Kathy Patalsky says
enjoy! remember, for thicker shakes, start out with less liquid add as needed to blend. (I like mine extra thick and creamy!)
Summer LaBarge says
Just got some matcha tea and chia seeds. Guess what im having for breakfast! Yum
peace2mankind says
Just tried this tonight and it was refreshing and light, thanks again for another keeper.
peace2mankind says
wow, Davi that sounds fantastic, I'm going to try your Mojito Green Tea Smoothie tomorrow! Thanks for sharing.
Catalina Linkava says
Thank you for a wonderful recipe. I have made variations on it but always by trial and error. I really admire the nice photography, which is just second to how delicious this almost always turns out with my 'experimentations'. Great post.
Stephy says
I tried it this morning and its amazing!!! I'm hooked π Thanks Kathy!
brittney says
I have a really good brand of matcha, too! = ( I know, flavor is whats important buuut, I'll be happier with a green.. hehe
brittney says
Amazing stuff here but i can't get that green color.. it turns redbrowngreen lol.. tips?
Kathy Patalsky says
Isn't it yummy?!!! I love it too. Addicted.
π
Jamie Bunkley says
Thank you for posting this! Never thought about using the matcha in a smoothie! I didn't have watermelon and made just a banana cinnamon smoothie with just a little squirt of agave...it was delish! I usually make pineapple, banana and spinach smoothies for my green smoothies...but this is my new fave!
Angela Cristina says
I wanted to make this today but turns out I have NO bananas at home right now... booooo ... trying this again tomorrow. for sure.
Taryn says
I've been making this smoothie with a handful of greens and 1T of grated ginger and it is SO AMAZING!
Kathy Patalsky says
You are ingesting the tea leaves. Unlike steeped tea there is nothing to "release" the leaves are ground to a fine powder so absorbed and ingested whole. Does that make more sense?
Javierza says
Wait a sec, so the matcha is added cold?? Doesn't this mean that you're not brewing the matcha and therefore not extracting all of its flavors? Granted, clearly this is delicious so perhaps this point doesn't matter... probably.
Kathy Patalsky says
You should use a minimal amount of liquid and if you need it more frosty - add in more frozen watermelon and frozen banana. It should be thick like a milkshake. Watery means you added too much liquid or your ingredients were not frozen enough. Hope that helps!! And do try again - it is so delish! ps. if you like it sweeter - use an extra extra ripe frozen banana or add a drizzle of agave syrup π
Alexia Kulterer says
i love matcha but the last time i tried to make this smoothie I added too litle banana and it became quite liquid and not very enjoyable! will have to try it again!
Railenthe Zeal says
Matcha is amazing. My first time was at the Japanese Festival, where I was lucky enough to get a ticket. I love it. The best kind tastes like not much at first, twists bitter, and has a languorous sweet endnote. I often have it plain. It wakes me up without wiring me up.
Kathy Patalsky says
You can use frozen peaches or simple add more banana and a scoop of ice.
Laura says
I have been having this all summer too! Any suggestions for a matcha smoothie with something other than watermelon? Since the season is about over. Thanks!
Davi says
Just wanted to thank you for the matcha smoothie idea-iit has been life changing! I hope you don't mind me sharing a favorite version I've come up with. A Mojito Green Tea Smoothie. I use spinach (a lot), lime, mint, matcha, coconut milk, sweetener, and a small amount of frozen banana or mango and ice. During our lingering summer heat, it's a energizing breakfast cocktail! Thanks again, and love the new design. Stunning pics as always!
Sophia says
Do you know what the calorie count it?
Kathy Patalsky says
I love DoMatcha organic .. It is at most whole foods and always reliable in amazing flavor /color. You want your matcha to be bright green. American tea room matcha is great too. From my experience, you get what u pay for when it comes to matcha, all the very inexpensive varieties have always disaPpointed me. (I recently bought some little matcha packets for a cheap price and they were awful.) and yes, always choose organic if possible.
Yas says
This will be my breakfast tomorrow. Yummmm ^_^
Lindsay says
Looks delicious! I would like to try matcha, but I wasn't sure which kind to buy. Is there a brand/type you would recommend?
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you!
Taylor says
I have yet to try matcha but I really want to because your matcha smoothies look amazing! Just wanted to comment to say I love the new layout. Much cleaner looking! π
Kia says
I love matcha and this smoothie looks amazing! I first tried it during a Japanese tea ceremony and fell in love with the grassy-like flavor.
Kathy Patalsky says
Thanks so much Abby! So glad you like it π crisp + classy is what I wanted!
Abby Heugel says
I've never had matcha and would probably need to sample it before making a purchase, so I think you need to hurry up with that Smoothie Truck. I will totally be your first customer π By the way, the blog changes look great. Very classy and crisp!
Jon says
looks amazing!