Green Tea Matcha Smoothie (The Recipe Redux)

A new year means new habits, right? I don't know about you, but I definitely have a checklist of things I want to accomplish this year, including new recipes and foods that I want to try. I am definitely thankful for this month's Recipe Redux challenge, "A New Ingredient for the New Year," for providing some motivation to get the ball rolling in trying new things for 2016:

"Pick a new ingredient that you’ve been wanting to try… and cook or bake up a new recipe in the new year. Are you curious about nutritional yeast, fish sauce, matcha, teff – or maybe even ugli fruit? Show us how you’re cooking with something new (to you!) in 2016"

It's interesting that matcha was listed as an example because I've definitely been meaning to try matcha green tea powder for quite some time now. It's one of those things that I've been curious about, but just haven't quite gotten around to tracking down or ordering online. Thanks to Kathy of HappyHealthyLife.com for recommending Encha Organic Matcha products, which I bought a "starter bundle" from a few week ago.

PC: http://encha.com/products/matcha-single-serve-packets

The starter bundle pack came with 7 total single serve packets (1 tsp each) in three varieties: the "ceremonial grade," the "vegan latte grande," and the "culinary grade" matcha powders. It was a great option for someone like me, wanting to try out something new, without a huge price commitment.

Why Matcha ?

Matcha is "super" green tea in the whole powder form, which is thought to be a more effective form in boosting the mental energy and antioxidant benefit over regular teas. While I don't believe in "super foods," I do believe in emphasizing nutrient-dense foods in the diet and how we combine our food choices on a daily basis can have a large effect of our overall well-being and health. I'm not a huge hot tea drinker, but since Matcha comes in a powdered form it's a lot more versatile in how it can be used (i.e. in baked goods, a smoothie, etc). Health benefits of Matcha may include improved mental alertness and clarity, stronger immune defense and detoxification.  Even better, Matcha is a source of vitamin A, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C, Vitamin E, vitamin K and other trace minerals while rich antioxidants including polyphenols, catechins and chlorophyll. It even contains the amino acids L-theanine (typically derived from tea leaves and mushrooms and has a naturally calming, soothing affect) and theophylline. For me personally, I just started a new semester of teaching two different college courses on top of the business and my training, so I figure I could use all the mental energy (and calming vibes!) I can get !!

When I first purchased my Matcha, I definitely had no idea how to best use it. Sure, the simplest form is to brew it with hot water, but I wasn't quite ready for that straight "commitment." Instead I decided to try it as an add in to my usual green smoothie. The result was fantastic, and I've since then made this a bit of a post-workout/morning wake-up ritual to start my day off on a strong note!

Here's the recipe so you can make yourself a Matcha Green Tea Smoothie as well:​

Ingredients:

1 c. milk
1/2 banana
1/2 c. frozen mango chunks
2 handfuls fresh greens (kale or spinach)
2 scoops vanilla protein powder*
1 tsp green tea matcha powder*

*I specifically used Shaklee Life Vanilla Protein and Encha Vegan Latte-Grade Pure Organic Matcha.
​

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

Note: When choosing a matcha powder, it's important to buy organic to eliminate exposure to pesticides and fertilizers, and ensure you are in fact purchasing "Matcha Powder" which is different than "Green Tea Powder." 

---

So now you tell me:
​
What new ingredient or food are you looking to try in 2016 ?

Don't forget to browse through the other Recipe Redux posts below!

Disclaimer: No compensation was received for the products discussed in this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

---

An InLinkz Link-up