Black Sesame Matcha Smoothie

Black sesame and matcha make a distinctive smoothie with a distinctly Japanese-leaning flavour profile: roasted, nutty depth from the seeds and the clean grassy bitterness of green tea powder. Rather than a light fruit smoothie, this version is creamy and earthy, with ripe banana giving body and natural sweetness while cold milk, honey and vanilla soften the sharper edges. Blending the sesame first helps it disperse smoothly, so the finished drink is thick, speckled and best enjoyed straight away while cold and freshly aerated.
Recipe by JustRecipes Editorial Team
Content validated: August 2026 How we create recipes
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Cuisine style Japanese-inspired café drink
Cooking style No-cook preparation • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 15 minutes

Why this recipe works

  • Ready in minutes: Everything is blended cold, making this a fast drink with no cooking or steeping required.
  • Earthy, balanced flavour: Black sesame brings roasted nuttiness, while matcha adds grassy bitterness that is softened by banana, honey and vanilla.
  • Thick, smooth body: Ripe banana, milk and ice create a creamy texture, while starting the sesame separately helps it blend more evenly.
  • Easy to adjust: Sweetness, milk choice and matcha strength can be adapted without changing the basic method.

Get the most out of this recipe

Ingredient notes

  • Choose fresh matcha: Fresh matcha gives a cleaner green-tea flavour; older powder can taste dull or more bitter.
  • Use a ripe banana: A ripe banana adds natural sweetness and thickness, helping to balance the bitterness of the matcha.
  • Start with the sesame: Briefly blitzing the black sesame before adding the liquids helps it disperse more evenly through the smoothie.

Texture tips

  • Blend until uniform: Keep blending until the drink looks thick and even, pausing to scrape down the jug if sesame or matcha collects on the sides.
  • Adjust the pour: If the smoothie is too thick for your blender, add a splash more milk and blend again until smooth.
  • Avoid a gritty finish: Do not rush the final blend; the sesame needs enough time to break down and disappear into the drink.

Dietary alternatives

  • Dairy-free option: Use coconut milk or another cold plant milk in place of whole milk; coconut milk gives a richer, more tropical note.
  • Vegan option: Swap the honey for agave syrup and use a plant-based milk.

Timing notes

  • Serve straight away: The texture is thickest and coldest just after blending, before the ice begins to melt.
  • Short holding time: If needed, refrigerate for up to 2 hours, then briefly re-blend with ice to refresh the texture.

Equipment you'll need

Blender Measuring spoons
Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Add the black sesame seeds to the blender and blitz briefly to a coarse powder so they incorporate evenly.
  2. Peel the banana and break it into a few chunks. Add it to the blender with the matcha powder, whole milk, honey and vanilla extract.
  3. Add the ice cubes and blend until completely smooth, thick, and no specks remain, scraping down once if needed. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • For the smoothest texture, blend the black sesame seeds first, then blend the full mixture for a good 45 to 60 seconds.
  • If matcha tastes too bitter, add an extra 1 tsp honey and blend again for 5 seconds.
  • If serving to young children, reduce the matcha powder to 0.5 tsp for a milder flavour.

Substitutions

  • Replace Whole milk with Coconut milk for a dairy-free version with a richer coconut flavour.
  • Replace Honey with Agave syrup for a lighter, more neutral sweetness.
  • Replace Vanilla extract with a pinch of Ground cinnamon for a warm, spiced edge.

Storage

  • Best served straight away. If needed, refrigerate for up to 2 hours, then blend again briefly with a couple of Ice cubes to refresh the texture.

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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 1 glasses
  • Total time: 10min (10min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Japanese
  • Allergens:
    Milk Sesame
Beginner friendly Kid friendly
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Equipment you'll need

Blender Measuring spoons

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Honey

1 cup ≈ 340 g
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Matcha powder

1 cup ≈ 96 g
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Vanilla extract

1 cup ≈ 240 ml
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Whole milk

1 cup ≈ 240 ml
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