Mango Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

This Mango Matcha Green Tea Smoothie is the perfect thing to get your day started! Made with banana, frozen broccoli, mango, and plant-based milk, this vegan matcha smoothie is loaded with green goodness, antioxidants for a healthy morning breakfast recipe. 

Hey there, it's me, the Nutrition Lady, about to deliver a dose of sunshine into your morning routine.

I don't drink coffee because it makes me cray-cray, and not in a cool way. I feel like I'm about to dye and I'm apt to cry and 100% likely to throw things, so I just do all of humanity a favour and don't drink the stuff. 

I do like to start my day with a couple of big mugs of milky black tea, or a tea latte like this Pumpkin Chai Latte. In the cooler months I make this Iced London Fog Tea Latte. And if I really want to treat myself, I'll take the time to whisk up a Matcha Latte.

But some mornings I'm running around like crazy trying to get the kids out the door and get everyone fed and dressed and I'm like, couldn't I just combine the two? 

Friends yes you can! This Matcha Green Tea Smoothie is the best of both worlds! 

It's a green smoothie that's loaded with extra veggies, the sunshiney flavour of mango, and it's veritable antioxidant bomb thanks to the addition of matcha green tea powder. 

Are you ready for this?!

What's in this green tea smoothie?

Alright my friends, the ingredients list is short and sweet! Here's what you're going to need:

• Matcha powder --> I used ceremonial grade matcha because that's what I had on hand, but we'll discuss matcha options below.
• Frozen mango --> Fresh is fine too, if mangoes are in season.
• Frozen banana --> This makes your smoohie crazy creamy and kinda like a matcha shake.
• Frozen broccoli -->Yep, we're going green!
• Spinach --> Fresh or frozen is fine. Fresh will give you a greener smoothie.
• Plant-based milk --> I'm a fan of oat milk these days.
• Lime --> This gives your smoothie some zing and activates the matcha.
• Chia seeds --> For a little omega-3 boost.

How do you make a green tea smoothie?

I'm going to get you guys to get a pen and paper and write this one down because it's complicated. 

Are you ready?

Step 1: Put all of the ingredients into your blender.

Step 2: Blend it upppppppppp!!!

Step 3: You are done. 

Do you need a high-speed blender to make this smoothie?

Absolutely not. A high-speed blender (I have this one) will of course yield a smoother and more evenly blended smoothie, but it's not a requirement in the slightest. 

If you have a less robust blender you may find that it doesn't fully blend the frozen broccoli. With my previous blender this often happened, so I'd let the frozen ingredients sit and thaw a little bit before blending and I found that helped a lot. 

Can you taste the broccoli in this green smoothie?

Nope! 

It's possible my taste buds are immune from years and years of super green smoothies, but with the mango and banana and matcha powder, you really can't taste the broccoli or spinach at all. 

What's the point of it then? Because broccoli and spinach are super good for you, and why not sneak in more green veg when we can?

What is matcha?

Matcha is straight, stoneground green tea leaves. Because matcha is fully consumed (as opposed to discarding the leaves) it provides you with green tea’s full arsenal of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

To even begin to match the potency found in a single serving of matcha, you would need to drink at least ten cups of brewed green tea. Ten!

Matcha comes in different grades. At the top is ceremonial grade, which is the brightest green, finest matcha powder made from young green tea leaves. Ceremonial grade is also the most expensive.

Culinary grade matcha is a lower quality, and therefore less expensive, but still has great flavour and all of the same antioxidant benefits, and is great for smoothies or cooking with, like these Matcha Shortbread Cookies! 

Where to buy matcha powder?

You'll likely find matcha powder at your favourite local tea store, where you'll be able to discuss different grades and choose the best one for your needs. I only buy ceremonial grade matcha because I mostly drink it, so I'm ok with the occasional "splurge" when I use it in a smoothie. 

You can also find matcha online at Amazon (links above to various grades of matcha powder).

Is matcha good for you?

It sure is! 

Matcha is packed with antioxidants, including a class of antioxidant plant compounds known as catechins. Because of this, matcha appears to be particularly efficient at reducing inflammation and preventing cell damage.

Studies have linked green tea – and matcha in particular – to a variety of health benefits, including heart health. Matcha is also calming and helps relax us, enhances mood, and aids in concentration.

Some people claim that matcha can help to boost metabolism, although the research is less clear in this area. Matcha is rich in vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc, and magnesium.

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Matcha Yogurt Breakfast Bowl
Matcha Shortbread Cookies
Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie
Carrot Apple Smoothie with Ginger

This recipe was originally published October 19, 2014. It was retested, rephotographed, and updated August 27, 2019.

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