Matcha Green Frappe Smoothie
This smoothie is dedicated to my 13 yr old daughter - who fell in love with Matcha Green Frappes at the local coffee house in spring 2016. I am always leery of the syrups used, adding calories that are man made vs. God made. I set out to make a Matcha green frappe that she would be able to enjoy at home. My daughter loves coconut and coconut milk is so good for the body. You can find canned coconut milk at your local health food co-op, VitaCost on line, and now even Costco carries Thai brand. The coconut milk will make this smoothie even more creamy, and is preferred over almond milk.
Ingredients:
8 oz. unsweetened almond milk (Silk brand)
OR 8 oz. Coconut milk (Thai brand)
1 scoop vanilla vegan protein powder*
1 small banana, cut into chunks (or 1/2 of a larger banana)
1 tsp. matcha green tea powder
1/2 tsp. raw honey (skip if you use Silk Vanilla almond milk which has sweetener)
1 cup ice
Place all ingredients in blender or magic bullet. Blend until ice is gone and smoothie is fluffy and thick. Enjoy immediately.
* If you prefer a protein with zero sweetener use one scoop of the Essentials Daily Protein Boost instead.
Matcha Green Tea has many health benefits. A friend who visited Japan informed me it is "the drink" of the land, and we thought its origins were in Japan. However, when I began to research I do believe the Chinese may receive the credit for originally promoting this healthy drink. Matcha tea is made from the whole leaf vs. steeping in hot water, and therefore provides a much greater percentage of the super antioxidant ECGC. Anti oxidants are key in combating free radicals in the body. Matcha Green also helps boost metabolism and provides a boost of energy. Interestingly, Matcha contains the amino acid L-theanine, which helps relax the body. Most people will not develop jitters from the caffeine of Matcha - but I like to add caution that it could if one is extremely sensitive.
I chose a brand of Matcha from amazon after reading a number of reviews and product specifications. I liked that the organic DNA Matcha states purity, and I believe purity beats organic any time. I was impressed with the company's information, and the statement that it has a more mild flavor is reflected in my daughter's thumbs up for this smoothie.
Ingredients:
8 oz. unsweetened almond milk (Silk brand)
OR 8 oz. Coconut milk (Thai brand)
1 scoop vanilla vegan protein powder*
1 small banana, cut into chunks (or 1/2 of a larger banana)
1 tsp. matcha green tea powder
1/2 tsp. raw honey (skip if you use Silk Vanilla almond milk which has sweetener)
1 cup ice
Place all ingredients in blender or magic bullet. Blend until ice is gone and smoothie is fluffy and thick. Enjoy immediately.
* If you prefer a protein with zero sweetener use one scoop of the Essentials Daily Protein Boost instead.
Matcha Green Tea has many health benefits. A friend who visited Japan informed me it is "the drink" of the land, and we thought its origins were in Japan. However, when I began to research I do believe the Chinese may receive the credit for originally promoting this healthy drink. Matcha tea is made from the whole leaf vs. steeping in hot water, and therefore provides a much greater percentage of the super antioxidant ECGC. Anti oxidants are key in combating free radicals in the body. Matcha Green also helps boost metabolism and provides a boost of energy. Interestingly, Matcha contains the amino acid L-theanine, which helps relax the body. Most people will not develop jitters from the caffeine of Matcha - but I like to add caution that it could if one is extremely sensitive.
I chose a brand of Matcha from amazon after reading a number of reviews and product specifications. I liked that the organic DNA Matcha states purity, and I believe purity beats organic any time. I was impressed with the company's information, and the statement that it has a more mild flavor is reflected in my daughter's thumbs up for this smoothie.