Grapefruit Smoothie with Green Tea
This grapefruit smoothie with green tea has an exquisite complex flavor that is sweet and musky, and is fantastic for boosting metabolism for weight loss. This exotic smoothie recipe is on the menu for my Mother’s Day Brunch this weekend. My mum and dad are here from Australia to stay for a month, and we’re cooking with family and friends, and then going walking in the gardens in Pasadena.
My mum absolutely loves grapefruit and green tea, and when I created this smoothie for KitchenAid as part of my role as their global ambassador for blenders, I had her in mind. So, mum, (spelling it the English way or my mother will give me the snarky look), this is for you! And, any other mums out there who love green tea and grapefruit.
I’m also going to offer this grapefruit smoothie up for those of you who are trying to lose weight. I get asked for weight loss smoothie recipes every day, and grapefruit and green tea are two of the most powerful weight loss foods. So, when you put them together, you have a weight-loss wonder smoothie.
This grapefruit smoothie recipe contains a lot of the top weight-loss foods: grapefruit, green tea and matcha powder, chia seeds, pineapple, avocado, and red pepper flakes.
Grapefruit for Weight Loss Smoothies
Grapefruit is an amazing tummy-tamer ingredient for weight-loss smoothies, because it’s low in fat, low in natural sugar, high in mineral-rich water, and rich in pectin fiber which helps grapefruit to burn fat, promote the flow of gastric juices, and bulk up food in the colon to help eliminate toxins.
This sensational citrus star also helps lower insulin, which helps reduce fat storage. Grapefruit also contains limonoid, a phytonutrient that supports antioxidant glutathione production to boost the function of the liver to expel fats and sugars.
Furthermore, one medium ruby red grapefruit contains the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C and a truckload of bioflavonoids that reduce bloating.
Grapefruit is also loaded with carotenoids for vitamin A, potassium, and folic acid to boost immunity, help fight infections, combat inflammation, and regulates blood pressure and cholesterol. Just know that grapefruit is on the no-go list for people on blood pressure meds.
Grapefruit is chemically acidic, but alkaline-forming when digested past the stomach.
How To Use Grapefruit in Smoothies
I get a lot of questions asking about the best way to use grapefruit in a smoothie so that it is not bitter.
I always use pink or ruby red grapefruits in smoothies. While white grapefruit contains slightly fewer calories and carbs, pink and ruby red grapefruits contain more flavonoids, anthocyanins, and lycopenes to combat free radical damage and abnormal cell development.
Peel the grapefruit and remove as much of the rind and pith as possible to reduce the bitterness. Add grapefruit gradually until you get the flavors just right. Even if you’re a grapefruit lover, adding too much grapefruit to smoothies can throw the balance with the other ingredients off. Depending on the blend of other ingredients, start with 1/2 cup of grapefruit, and add to taste. I find that 1 cup is usually perfect. Grapefruits vary dramatically in size, so I prescribe all grapefruit measurements for my smoothie recipes in cups.
Go-To Ingredients for Grapefruit Smoothies
Here are the ingredients that pair well with grapefruit for awesome smoothies
- Other Citrus – oranges, lemon, and lime – oranges sweeten the grapefruit and take the edge off the bitterness, and a splash of lemon or lime juice lifts and brightens the flavors
- Frozen pineapple, mango, or banana sweetens the smoothie and adds a creaminess
- Raspberries and strawberries accent beautifully, add slight sweetness, and are great weight-loss foods, too.
- Avocado and coconut meat – adds a creamy element
- fennel – grapefruit and fennel were just meant to live in the blender together. The flavor is divine
- Red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or fresh chiles – add a spicy element and ramp up metabolism
- Chia seeds, flax oil, frozen raw cauliflower, and camu powder are all great boosters that don’t alter flavor.
The Health Benefits of Green Tea for Weight Loss Smoothies
If you’re looking for weight loss smoothies, green tea is one of the top ingredients you can add to your blends to amp up the agenda.
Green tea is absolutely loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which makes green tea one of the ultimate fat fighters. Matcha powder contains the most antioxidant ammo of any form of green tea, with about 100 times the EGCG of regular brewed green tea. So, to maximize the antioxidant potential of this smoothie, definitely add the matcha powder booster.
The caffeine and the amino acid L-theanine in green tea helps boost metabolism. And, while caffeine is a diuretic, green tea is still very hydrating, to help boost immunity and energy. Green tea is also packed with vitamins and minerals, and catechin flavonoids to cleanse the liver and kidneys.
How to Prepare Green Tea for Smoothies
For the most balanced flavor in smoothies, steep green tea leaves or tea tags briefly for about 30 seconds, then chill the prepared tea in the fridge, and use cold in your smoothies. You can use commercial unsweetened iced tea in this smoothie. But, the most health benefits, I recommend taking the time to brew fresh green tea yourself.
The Best Blender for Smoothies
If I had a dollar for every time I was asked what the best blender was, I’d own a large island in the pacific. I joke, but it’s an important question, particularly if you start every morning with a smoothie like I do.
I own almost every blender on the market so I can test my recipes extensively on a lot of different machines, and ensure the recipes are accessible to people using all kinds of blenders at different price points.
Smoothies need to be as smooth as possible. So much of the enjoyment of food is about the texture, and I don’t know anybody who wants to floss their teeth with a smoothie. So, if you want to make smoothies with all kinds of ingredients: soft fruits and veggies, yogurt, protein powders, frozen fruits, and hard fibrous ingredients like apples, carrots, beets, dates, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and chia seeds and other superfoods, you want a powerful blender that will completely pulverize all of these ingredients.
When I have finalized a smoothie blend, my team and I measure out the ingredients for five batches of the smoothie. We then line up five different blender models, and put the ingredients into each of the blender containers, and with stop watch, blend the same exact smoothie at the same time.
The difference in texture is astounding. Sometimes, they look like completely different smoothies! AND, here’s the really important thing:
Texture Affects Taste.
The alchemy that is created when you blend ingredients is incredible, and the more well blended your smoothie blend is, the better it will taste. When the ingredients are completely blended and emulsified, you will get the most well rounded, balanced flavor.
The difference is mind-blowing. And, it’s really hard to convey the stark difference in flavor until you taste the same smoothie blended in two different machines side by side.
I’ve done this at events all over the world, and the look on people’s faces just says it all. I really need to take some videos.
So, what blender do I use for my smoothies?
I Use the KitchenAid High Performance Blender
I absolutely love the KitchenAid High Performance blender. I think it’s the best blender I’ve ever used. I love it so much I agreed, for the first time, to be the ambassador for a blender company. It was a really big move for me. And, the best decision I have ever made.
This high-speed blender has incredible power to pulverize even the most fibrous ingredients like leafy greens, beets, carrots, apples, nuts, seeds, dates, sun-dried tomatoes, and large frozen fruit.
The KitchenAid High Performance blender has a 3.0 HP motor with a stainless steel asymmetric blade and variable speeds from 1 to 9 so you can completely control your blends. The container is BPA-free, and has a 60 oz capacity. For really thick smoothies, you have a tamper to guide the ingredients through the blades for the smoothest shake.
When we test smoothies on our different machines, we see a lot of lids warble and spin while blending. One of the things I love the most about the KitchenAid blender is that the lid is completely reinforced and doesn’t warp or move. So, you get a complete seal. So, you can walk away and get ready for your morning while your smoothie is blending, and not worry that you’ll come back to smoothie all over your kitchen walls!
The other thing that is exciting about this blender is that it is GORGEOUS. Finally in the high-speed blender space we have Style and Substance.
One of the biggest complaints I get from readers is that the high-speed blenders are ugly, and don’t match anything else in the kitchen. But, it’s no good having a gorgeous blender that doesn’t work well.
With the KitchenAid blender, you have form and function. You’ve got a stunning blender to match your stand mixer, food processor, toaster, kettle, and coffee machine that offers superior performance. The base of the blender is the same die-cast metal that the stand mixers are made of, and we know those last!
And, the blender has a 10-Year warranty. Yay!
Check out the KitchenAid High Performance blender, and let me know what you think of this grapefruit smoothie.
*I am a paid ambassador for KitchenAid blenders. But, my opinions are my own.
More Weight Loss Smoothies For You
Green Tea, Apple, and Wheatgrass Smoothie
Raspberry Protein Smoothie
Lime Alkaline Glowing Green Smoothie
Spicy Tomato Smoothie
Low Sugar Cranberry Almond Smoothie
Get 100 Smoothie Recipes
My Top 100 Smoothie Recipes are in The Blender Girl Smoothies book.
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