8 Marvelous Matcha Milkshake Recipes for You

Green tea is known for its health benefits as well as for its place in traditional Japanese culture. Matcha is a form of green tea that is processed into a dry powder that can be mixed with any liquid to turn it into a delicious beverage. In a customary Japanese tea ceremony, this green powdered tea is prepared, served and consumed. Matcha is also used as a natural dye for certain types of noodles and green tea flavored ice cream.

The health benefits of matcha are plentiful. The leaves harvested to make green powdered tea contain extra theanine and chlorophyll than leaves harvested for other teas. According to the University of New Hampshire’s health blogger Kelsey McCullough, theanine has a calming effect on people and can help them focus. A health blogger at Columbia University describes a variety of positive effects chlorophyll has on the body, including helping to prevent or fight cancer, reducing harm caused by carcinogens and eliminating free radicals from the body.

Matcha tends to have a deeper, sweeter flavor than tea leaves harvested for steeping in boiling water. People tend to appreciate this flavor as an additive to milkshakes. For a quick afternoon pick-me-up that delivers antioxidants and helps boost overall health and wellbeing, try one of the matcha milkshake recipes below. Each recipe makes one serving, and the amount of matcha used in each recipe can be adjusted according to taste.

Simple Matcha Milk

This version of matcha milk does not even require an electric blender. Simply combine ice, milk and matcha in a shaker and shake away, straining out lumps and ice as the beverage is poured into a glass.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon matcha
• 1 tablespoon sweetener (honey, sugar or maple syrup)
• 1 cup of milk or milk alternative

Directions

Shake the ingredients in a shaker designed for milkshakes. Feel free to pour the finished beverage through a strainer to remove any clumps of powder and excess ice.

Basic Matcha Milkshake

The basic version of a matcha milkshake is a refreshing treat for any time of year. It’s smoother, less filling and better for you than a milkshake, and it provides just the right amount of cool frothiness to serve as a daytime snack or after-dinner dessert. This recipe was adapted from The Kitchn website.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon matcha
• 1 tablespoon sweetener (honey, sugar or maple syrup)
• 1 cup of milk alternative

Directions

Blend the ingredients together with a large handful of ice until smooth. More ice will make the consistency of the beverage like soft-serve ice cream. Less ice will make the drink very cold, but a thinner consistency. Pour into a frozen glass and tuck in a straw.

Deluxe Matcha Ice Cream Milkshake

Kirbie of Kirbie’s Cravings makes a richer matcha milkshake using vanilla ice cream as the base. Replace the milk with any milk substitute in this recipe. A vanilla-flavored milk substitute would add to the sweetness of this beverage.

Ingredients

• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon matcha powder

Directions

Blend the ingredients together and serve in a tall glass.

Matcha Breakfast Milkshake

This milkshake has the creaminess of a smoothie made with ice cream but uses a healthier base. Incorporate vanilla or peach yogurt for a delicious alternative to plain yogurt.

Ingredients

• ½ cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons honey, sugar or maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon matcha powder

Directions

Blend the ingredients together. Add ice for extra frothiness and to make the milkshake thicker.

Orange Joy Matcha Sherbet

Instead of downing a pint of ice cream at the end of the night, create a sherbet-like sensation with this matcha recipe. Use a high-powered blender and lots of ice for a texture that is very similar to ice cream.

Ingredients

• ½ cup orange or pineapple juice (or a blend of the two)
• ½ cup soy, rice or almond milk
• 1 tablespoon honey, sugar or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon matcha powder

Directions

Fill a large blender halfway with ice. Smaller, single-serving blenders can be filled to capacity with ice. Add the matcha powder, then pour in the liquids. Blend vigorously, scraping the sides or using a tamper to push the ice into the blades as necessary. Don’t blend too long or the heat from the blender will melt the sherbet.

Berry Matcha Smoothie

Matcha can be added to a breakfast smoothie to kill two birds with one stone. Ditch the coffee but retain the energy it provides and add in a delicious breakfast indulgence at the same time.

Ingredients

• ½ cup berries
• ½ cup yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey, sugar or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon matcha powder
• ½ cup ice

Directions

Blend all of the ingredients together, adjusting the amount of ice if necessary. If the berries are frozen, add a little liquid in the form of fruit juice or a milk alternative to get the ingredients to blend smoothly.

Strawberry Banana Matcha Milkshake

The comforting flavor of strawberries and bananas is combined in this smoothie. Freeze the bananas beforehand for a perfectly thick consistency.

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• ½ cup strawberries
• ¼ cup milk or milk alternative
• 1 tablespoon honey, sugar or maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon matcha powder

Directions

Use a blender to combine all ingredients. Before freezing the banana, cutting it into smaller chunks will ensure that the milkshake is uniformly smooth once it is blended.

Matcha Malt Milkshake

Joy Wilson of Joy the Baker swears by adding malt powder to her matcha milkshakes. Made from malted barley, wheat and milk, the powder rounds out the flavor of the drink with an unexpected twist.

Ingredients

• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup vanilla ice cream
• 2 teaspoons honey, sugar or maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon matcha powder
• 1 tablespoon malt powder
• splash of vanilla extract

Directions

Add the ingredients to a blender and combine.

Have you tried any of these recipes? Let us know in the comment section below.