As I was browsing Yahoo! Beauty's digital magazine on the bus to work last week I came across an article touting the benefits of matcha powder. It took me back to my Starbucks days as a Barista back in 2007 when I first encountered matcha powder. I remember thinking it was a toxic looking shade of green and the fine powder would easily explode into a large cloud of matcha when you opened or poured a new bag. So what is this strange green powder? Matcha powder is a super fine powder of ground green tea leaves with a rich, earthy flavor. 

While drinking brewed green tea has always been praised, ingesting and drinking matcha allows you to reap the maximum benefits of this superfood. In addition to providing you with a natural caffeine boost, matcha powder can boost your metabolism and burn calories, detoxify the body, improve concentration and mood, fortify the immune system, and improve cholesterol. Matcha is loaded with antioxidants, rich in fiber, and provides the body with Vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc, and magnesium. 

Reading that Yahoo! Beauty article reminded me that I had a jar of matcha powder in my fridge and it inspired me to use it! You can bake matcha cookies, cakes, and breads, sprinkle it onto chocolate nibs, or stir it into a warm glass of milk, but my favorite way to enjoy matcha is blended into my smoothies. I quickly whipped up a basic matcha smoothie to nurture my mean, green craving and wanted to share it with my readers. The great thing about this recipe is that it's really more of a formula and you can experiment with different juices, fruits and veggies. Go on, try it! 

Basic Matcha Smoothie

1 cup juice and/or milk (I used 2/3 cup milk, 1/3 cup Bolthouse Stone Fruit Smoothie)1 banana (fresh or frozen)1 teaspoon matcha powder1 cup frozen fruit or ice (I used frozen mango)
Combine all ingredients and blend!(Makes 1 Serving)