Fruit & Tea Rainbow Smoothie

Mornings…I dread mornings. Even with a cup of tea, the AM is a rough patch for me. It’s the time of day that I usually reach for some matcha to give me a visual pleasing and flavorful boost.

This Rainbow Smoothie is the deluxe version of my favorite morning cup of matcha–perfect for weekends or when you have a bit of extra time to spare. Layer after layer, it’s packed with fruits, yogurt, green tea, and even some veggies. It’s a special treat for those mornings that need an extra dose of sunshine and vitality.

It took me a few tries to get this recipe right. The key is to get each layer of the Rainbow Smoothie to be about the same thick consistency as the next layer. This assures that each layer can stay in its place without mixing with the smoothie layer before or after it.

I prefer to use frozen fruits or veggies whenever I can so that the smoothie retains a thicker consistency during blending and layering. Following measurement is important here, as is slightly adjusting the amounts of fruit you use depending on their juiciness and weight.
The foolproof way to create this colorful drink is to place each smoothie layer in the serving glass and then directly into the freezer to chill for about 10 minutes before adding the next layer. Use a tablespoon measure to gently lay in each smoothie layer to help the rainbow colors appear even in thickness.

If you want a quick Rainbow Smoothie fix, you can even make these up to a few hours ahead of time with good results. Simply place them in the fridge to chill before serving time. The process is a lot like making a layered jello, where a bit of patience goes a long way. Whip these up using only best quality, organic produce and your mornings with be that much brighter!

Fruit & Tea Rainbow Smoothie

Makes 2- 1 cup smoothies. 

Ingredients:

Purple Layer {1/2 cup frozen blueberries, 1/4 cup regular vanilla yogurt, 2 Tbsp coconut water)

Green Layer {1/3 cup packed kale, 1 rounded tsp matcha powder, 1/4 cup regular vanilla yogurt, 2 Tbsp coconut water}

Yellow Layer {1/2 cup frozen pineapple, 1/4 cup regular vanilla yogurt, 2 Tbsp coconut water}

Orange Layer {1/2 cup frozen mango, 1/4 cup regular vanilla yogurt, 2 Tbsp coconut water}

Pink Layer {1/2 cup frozen raspberries, 1/4 cup regular vanilla yogurt, 2 Tbsp coconut water}

Equipment:

blender (I used my mini one)

serving glasses

Tbsp measure

5 small cups for placing each smoothie color/flavor in before layering

Directions:

1.)  For one color/layer of the smoothie, place all the ingredients into the blender and blend on high, until you get an even consistency. Place the mixture into a small cup, then in the fridge to stay cold. Rinse, shake out, and dry the blender before blending the next smoothie layer. Pour each smoothie color into one small cup.

2.)  Starting with the purple smoothie, carefully spoon about 3 Tbsp of the mixture into each of 2 glasses. Place these glasses into the freezer to chill for about 10 minutes until the layer is softly set.

3.)  After 10 minutes, spoon out the green layer, then chill in the freezer again for 10 minutes. Repeat the spooning and chilling process for the next layers (yellow, orange, and then red) until the smoothie is complete. Enjoy!