Vanilla Matcha Smoothie

If you love the idea of a gentle energy boost without the jitters, this matcha smoothie is for you. It’s creamy, lightly sweet, and grounding—made with whole-food ingredients that turn matcha into a truly satisfying blend. Think café vibes at home, minus the sugar rush.

Why Matcha Works in a Smoothie

Matcha delivers steady, focused energy thanks to its natural caffeine paired with L-theanine. Blending it with healthy fats and fiber helps slow absorption, so you get calm alertness instead of a spike-and-crash. This smoothie balances that green tea flavor with banana, vanilla, and creamy cashews—smooth, not bitter.

If you’re new to smoothies, check out my how to make a smoothie guide to get expert tips.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Raw cashews: These mild, creamy nuts add a subtle nuttiness and silky texture to the smoothie. Soak them beforehand for an ultra-smooth blend or toss them in raw for convenience.
• Cashew milk: Creamy and slightly nutty, cashew milk makes the perfect dairy-free base for this smoothie. You can make your own cashew milk or buy an unsweetened version to let the fruit flavor shine.
• Matcha: Matcha brings a vibrant green color and earthy flavor with a hint of natural sweetness. Adjust the amount to your taste for a subtle lift or a bold, energizing kick.
• Frozen banana: A frozen banana adds natural sweetness, creaminess, and a perfectly thick texture. Use a ripe banana before freezing to maximize the flavor and sweetness. Read my guide on how to freeze bananas for more tips.
• Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla extract enhances the smoothie with a warm, sweet aroma. Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor, or skip it if you prefer a more earthy taste.
• Ginger root (optional): Fresh ginger adds a zesty, warming note that pairs beautifully with matcha. Use a small piece for a subtle hint or more if you love its bold kick.

How to Make a Matcha Smoothie

A matcha latte is delicious, but often relies on sweeteners. This smoothie keeps the whole-food advantage—fiber, healthy fats, and natural sweetness—so it’s more filling and better suited for breakfast or a nourishing snack. Here’s how to make it:

1. Soften your raw cashews. To achieve a shake-like texture, I take the extra step to soak the raw cashews before blending. Here are a few different ways you can soak your cashews: 
   • Method #1: soak the cashews overnight for 8 hours in water or even try soaking in coconut water. If you choose this method, put in the fridge overnight.
   • Method #2: Soak the cashews in boiling hot water for 10 minutes. This is what I call the “flash-boil” method when there’s no time to waste. Drain and then add to blender. You’ll lose some nutrients, yet you’ll still get the cream factor.
2. Place cashews, cashew milk, matcha powder, banana, ginger, and vanilla in a blender.
3. Blend until smooth and enjoy your matcha smoothie.

Easy Swaps and Add-Ins

Customizing this matcha smoothie recipe is super easy. Whether you want to switch up ingredients to fit your diet, cut back on sugar, or pack in more flavor, these swaps and add-ins will help you whip up an energizing smoothie that’s just right for you. Let’s get creative:

• Swap cashew milk: If you don’t like cashew milk, swap it for another non-dairy milk of your choice for a different creamy base.
• Swap raw cashews: Replace with oats for a nut-free option.
• Swap banana: Substitute your banana with cauliflower or avocado for lower sugar, though you’ll lose some of the sweetness.
• Add sweetness: Blend in 2 pitted Medjool dates if you prefer a sweeter matcha smoothie.
• Add frozen fruit: Use at least one frozen fruit to make the smoothie refreshingly cool.

More Energizing Smoothies

If you make this vanilla matcha smoothie, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.