Orange and matcha come together to create a perfect cold busting matcha smoothie!
It’s been a minute (more like 2 weeks!), right? Between the holidays, needed time to chill out and trying to get over two nasty colds, a break was well needed. I have the whole month of January already planned out, so I am excited about the recipes that are coming in the next few weeks! My goal is to start trying to incorporate more savory recipes too, since a girl can’t subsist on waffles and cake alone (much as I might try). My past self must have known that my future self was going to need this power packed matcha smoothie, as I developed the recipe quite a few weeks ago. When I drank a batch of this matcha smoothie this week, it was spot on, exactly what my body needed to recover from all the sickness going around. Between the orange, spinach and a little kick from matcha, there’s a lot of punch in this little glass. I will say that the smoothie as written isn’t very sweet, so if you like yours on the sweeter side, add a tablespoon or two of maple syrup in before blending.
Since I did take quite a long break, I had a chance to reset and refresh on what I’m really focusing on this year. Something I almost always struggle with when I take a break or haven’t blogged in a while, is the photography process. Ironically enough, it’s one of my favorite parts of blogging and has been a newfound love for me in the last few years, but each time I get out of the groove of everything, I fear trying to jump back into it. In everywhere else in life, I’m pretty much a planner at heart (I have trips through July planned already!) and always like to know how long things are going to take and how they are going to go along the way, but with photography, all those tendencies tend to go out the window. I’ve never been one to go by ‘feel’ very much, except with this whole photography thing and I have to say, it feels kind of weird. I rarely have a super clear idea on how I’m going to style a recipe or how exactly it will work in the end and I almost never pull props or dishes before shooting something. That all being said, Jesse shared on her Instagram stories the other day that she sketches out and visualizes how shoots are going to go before leaping into them. I tried that for this recipe and I have to say, it made life SO much easier. I sketched out a few general shot ideas on my tablet and then made a shot list a few days before I went to shoot the matcha smoothies. This method gave me enough room to breathe in terms of creativity, but didn’t feel like I was going into it blind, like I had been doing in the past. Just wanted to share that it isn’t always roses and rainbows here  and I think all creative types struggle with this sense of making sure everything is ‘just right’, but also authentic and real, while also trying to put out the best work possible. Trust your gut and plan just a little bit, so leaping into everything isn’t quite so daunting.
I hope you love this smoothie as much as I do! If matcha isn’t something you’ve dealt with in the past, don’t be scared off by its bright green color! I know it seems rather odd that it is a green tea powder, but trust me, it’s worth a try. I often use matcha in the afternoons to make a matcha smoothie or quick latte, because it isn’t quite as caffeinated as coffee and has a slower spike that coffee does. Just make sure you get a high quality version that dissolves well, this isn’t really the place to skimp!
Orange Matcha Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Drinks
Anu says
Thank you for the recipe! I am getting over a cold and have all the ingredients to make this 🙂
Sara @ Cake Over Steak says
First off, I love the sound of this smoothie. Secondly, I love hearing about this photo process you’re trying out! I’ve been doing something similar. When I first started with photography I went in pretty open-minded because I was still figuring it all out. As I got more comfortable I noticed I would take basically the same shot a million times and had trouble moving forward to the next shot. Now that I have a better sense of my process and style, I sit down and write out a shot list before I get started. I read through my recipe and visualize the process, thinking of the shots I want to take. Then when I’m shooting, I can just move from one to the next and cross them off as I go. It allows me to relax once I’ve gotten the shot I want so I can move on, and I know when my next planned shot is in the process (especially when it comes to baking), so it’s easier to know when I can disappear in the kitchen for a little longer without worrying about the next shot I’m going to take. I also try to leave my brain open to allow for a random shot idea to pop in if I feel inspired by something I hadn’t thought of. It’s definitely helped me with this whole process. Good luck! (I also think that half the time I would forget to take a reference shot for my intended illustration if I didn’t write it on my list … haha)
Heart of a Baker says
This is me!! Now that I make a shot list, I take it, check and then move on! My photo shoots went from 1 + hours to like 30 mins 🙂
WillCookForFriends says
I am the same way with my phhotography — most of the time I go into a shoot and just make it up as I go along. I have tried sketching out ideas ahead of time or pulling props that I think might go well, but I’m not consistent with it. Some recipes I have a really clear idea of how I want it to look, and others it’s like I need the finished dish right in front of me before I can even picture it in my head.
This smoothie sounds fabulous! I’m a big fan of matcha, but I haven’t used it in a smoothie yet (I mostly just make lattes with it). Will have to give this a try!
Heart of a Baker says
I get that way too! It helps to prepare along the way, but sometimes..I just don’t!
shellywest says
Don’t you just love how refreshed you feel after taking a little break? Gonna keep this smoothie in mind for the next time I’m feeling under the weather!
Heart of a Baker says
It feels so so lovely! xo
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
I got a cold right after New Years too. Not what I need when I am trying to get back to work. Glad to commiserate with you, and so glad for the inspired smoothie idea. I bet the citrus and matcha taste great together.
Heart of a Baker says
They are wonderful! Happy (delayed) new year!
Sarah | Well and Full says
I think I missed Jessie’s snapchat story, and I’m super bummed because I would have loved to see how her process works!! But that’s such a good idea, to sketch out a shoot before doing it…. I’ll have to try it!!
Heart of a Baker says
It’s so helpful! Even though I have terrible drawing skills, ha!
Sherrie says
Love love love this smoothie! And the photography here is on point. Beautiful, Abby, xx.
Heart of a Baker says
You are TOO kind! It makes my heart full when you say that 🙂
Annie says
I love that idea for photoshoots. I sometimes have ideas of what I want it to look like, and sometimes not. I will have to try this method to save myself some time. I feel like I am still pretty bad at photography, but I’m learning.
And oh yeah….this smoothie looks like the bomb. I love those to flavors together.
Heart of a Baker says
It takes so much practice, you can do it!
juliaroastedroot says
Kudos to you for having January all mapped out! Every time I tell myself I’m going to get ahead, I seem to just be treading water, ha! This is such a gorgeous smoothie! I’m definitely in need of all-things vitamins after the holiday season..feels like I’ve been fighting the same cold for a few weeks, and this smoothie would definitely help knock it out. 😀
Heart of a Baker says
Welllll let’s see how closely I stick to the schedule 🙂 Kick that cold to the curb sister!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
Hooray for breaks! Booo for being so hard to come back.. I experience the same, Abby. I took two weeks off and had another two weeks of posts lined up. The hardest part for me was jumping back into social media, the second, was photography. I struggle because I’m SO slow! I’m thinking I should take your and Jesse’s advise and do a bit of sketching prior to cooking. Sooo smart. I love everything about this smoothie. My favorite smoothie of all time is spinach, orange, ginger, banana, with a touch of hemp hearts. Now, I gotta add the matcha! I loooove that last shot you captured! xo
Heart of a Baker says
Ohh I need to try your version too! It’s just so hard to jump in after a break, but I kind of love it 🙂 xoxo
Juliana says
I enjoyed this smoothie a lot. Even my mom, who’s in her 70s and doesn’t like green drinks, enjoyed it. I didn’t follow the recipe exactly, but pretty close. I used soy milk, added the spinach and matcha, omitted the orange, and blended. I topped it off with some fresh-squeezed tangerine juice… which as super sweet! It was great to stumble upon your recipe because i had matcha powder and i actually find it so bitter and the detox so potent that it makes me feel queasy, but following the inspiration of your smoothie recipe, I didn’t mind it all. It was a Godsend because i’ve been ‘sick’ the last couple of days and this helped me feel alive again.
I was thinking a little bit of frozen mango might taste good in place of the ice cubes… but i love the orange with the soy milk.
Thanks for sharing!
Heart of a Baker says
I think adding mango would be a great idea! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe, it’s one of my absolute favorites! xo