Power your day with this Chocolate Matcha Protein Shake—a heady mix of chocolate milk, Roasted Pumpkin Seed Butter, and earthy matcha powder. Packed with plant-based protein, this iced matcha protein smoothie is creamy, filling, and not too sweet. A perfect breakfast shake!
Matcha is a bit of controversial ingredient, isn’t it? You either love it or you hate it.
As an Asian I kind of feel obligated to stick up for matcha. Luckily, it’s not hard because come on, it’s freaking delicious.
I’m not going to get into the health benefits, although there are plenty. I personally love matcha because it adds an earthy creamy flavour. It pairs well with rich chocolate milk.
Bonus: This is a banana-free smoothie recipe. I know some of you out there love your bananas, but if you’re starting to get sick of them, this one’s for you.
Ingredients + Substitutions
A few important notes on some of the ingredients used in this Chocolate Matcha Protein Shake:
Matcha Powder: So there are two grades of matcha: culinary vs ceremonial.
Ceremonial matcha is used for traditional tea ceremonies so it’s higher quality and more expensive. It’s meant to be made into pure matcha tea. It usually has a more vibrant green colour.
Culinary matcha is cultivated with the intention to turn it into desserts and baked goods, so it’s generally made with older tea leaves and has a duller green colour. I recommend using culinary grade matcha for smoothies, because it’s cheaper and tbh, you won’t taste the difference in a protein shake like this.
Chocolate Milk: You can also use dark chocolate milk. Silk makes a great Dark Chocolate Almond Milk.
Pumpkin Seed Butter: I love the taste of Roasted Pumpkin Seed Butter in this recipe. Plus, the vibrant green shade complements the matcha beautifully! You can also substitute Peanut Butter, or Sesame Paste, or any other nut or seed butter.
Protein Powder: I like keeping vegan protein powder on hand for a quick way to boost my protein intake. I use unsweetened protein powder (the chocolate milk keeps it just sweet enough). Chocolate or vanilla protein powder is also a good bet.
Tip: You can also add some spinach to make a matcha spinach smoothie. Or throw in a banana for a creamy banana matcha smoothie.
For a full list of ingredients and quantities, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step-by-Step Process
Add all the ingredients to a blender.
Blend together on high speed for 45 seconds to 1 minute.
Pour into a tall glass and drink immediately.
More Smoothie Recipes
Recipe Card
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Chocolate Matcha Protein Shake
Use Imperial/Metric buttons below to toggle between volume vs weight measurements. I recommend weighing out your ingredients for best results.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chocolate milk I use Silk Chocolate Soy Milk
- ¼ cup protein powder see Note 1
- 2 tbsp pumpkin seed butter
- 1 tbsp matcha powder
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a blender.
- Blend together on high speed for 45 seconds to 1 minute.
- Pour into a tall glass and drink immediately.
Notes
- Banana: Blend in one ripe banana to make the smoothie thicker and sweeter.
- Avocado: Half an avocado adds richness and makes it more filling.
- Flaxseed: Adds a bit of texture. But be careful, don’t leave the flaxseeds in for too long before drinking, because they’ll turn slimy.
- Coconut: Mix in a spoonful of toasted coconut flakes or shredded coconut. The nutty toasty flavour pairs great with matcha!
- Spinach or Zucchini: A small handful of baby spinach or chopped zucchini bulks up the nutrients, and doesn’t noticeably impact taste.