If you follow this blog, you've probably noticed I've become obsessed with healthy shakes, smoothies, and juicing.  Since this is my second summer since I decided to stop drinking any beverages with refined sugar (and no diet drinks either), I have come to realize I need something to replace sugary drinks.  Smoothies, and juicing, and iced tea are my answers for this.  What I love is that instead of having a drink with empty calories,  I'm getting a lot of nutrition and no added sugar with every drink. 


This recipe is inspired by a local restaurant Good Earth.  I was excited to see that they had a green tea smoothie because I've been wanting to drink more green tea (like every day) for it's health benefits, but I really only usually like it with a spicy Asian dish.  This is perfect.  I made my first test batch today small (just enough for myself) because I didn't know if my husband would like it since he doesn't like green tea.  I let him try it and he almost drank the whole thing! He said, "I couldn't even tell there was green tea it it."   Now that's how I know I nailed it!  I left out a couple of ingredients from the original, honey and mint.  I left out the mint because I didn't have any (I planted some in a container but the squirrels destroyed it).  I left out the honey only because I'm trying to add as little sugar as possible, but honey could add some good flavor so if you're not avoiding sugar like me and you want it a little sweeter then by all means add some. 

Mango Green Tea Smoothie
(makes about 2 cups)

Ingredients
1 cup of  decaf (water processed) organic iced green tea
1 cup of frozen mangoes ( I get mine at Trader Joe's)
1/4 cup of frozen organic raspberries
1 small banana frozen into 1-2 inch chunks
1 tsp of lime juice
1/2 tsp of stevia (or 1 tsp of raw honey)

Directions

Brewing The Green Tea
Hot method takes 2-3 hours
Bring 1 cup of filtered water to a near boil (175 degrees) and brew 1 tsp of green tea for no more than 2 minutes (green tea becomes bitter if it's brewed to long).  Then place your tea in the fridge once it is cooled to room temperature.  This is a great step to do the night before you want to make it.  If you don't have frozen bananas in your freezer make it now (it takes about 4 hours to freeze).

Cold Method takes 1 hour
 Place a tea bag or 1 oz of green tea into room temp water and move it back and forth several times for 15-30 seconds then place in the fridge for 1 hr.  If you don't have a frozen banana it should be OK, a barista from Starbucks said that they use fresh bananas in smoothies when possible and she prefers it, but I've never tried fresh myself

Putting it all Together
Place chilled green tea and all other ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.  Serve immediately.

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