A festive pink goji berry mint smoothie with vitamin-C-rich goji berries, and stress-reducing peppermint tea. The perfect pretty bowls to place on a holiday brunch table.
Goji Berry Mint Smoothie
This Goji Berry Mint Smoothie is one happy bowl.
Peppermint is such a soother, and it’s association with winter holidays makes it rather festive, don’t you think? And goji berries are considered a happy berry, a mood booster.
In fact, it is said that there is a village in China where goji berry bushes grow along the banks of the creek that supplies their water, and the people there are said to be the happiest on earth because they are drinking goji goodness all day long.
All About Goji Berries
Goji berries are berries from a plant that grows natively in China. The berries, also called wolfberries, have long been considered to have medicinal qualities.
Some say the berries cure disease, make you lose weight and live longer. Umm I think just eating a well-rounded plant-based diet with regular exercise will do that too.
I don’t refute the benefits of goji berries, I just don’t think depending on one food for catch-all nutrition is not a good idea. But goji berries are good for you – full of vitamin C and iron, and fun to eat.
They can be bought dried, like little red raisins, in most countries. Here in the USA, I have never found fresh goji berries, only dried ones in the superfood area in bags, often by brand Navitas Naturals, or in plastic cartons in the produce area of the supermarket.
I love to eat them out of the bag, or sprinkle on smoothies, or boil in tea. I boiled a tea and then blended it up into a delicious creamy yogurt smoothie like here. It turned the mixture a beautiful pink. I also added peppermint tea to this smoothie.
Benefits to Adding Peppermint Tea
Peppermint is also a powerful nutritional source. Peppermint tea is perfect for easing stomach upsets, relieving headaches, even calming bacterial infections. More on the benefits of peppermint tea here.
In this smoothie, I also added my favorite veggie thickener, peeled zucchini. I peel it when I need the color to be pure, but if you buy organic, you can keep the peel on for more fiber.
Finally, I added strawberries and topped the bowls with peppermint candy and gingerbread! Such a conversation starter during holiday brunch time!
All in all this smoothie recipe is rich in vitamins, iron and zinc. Great way to start the morning!
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Goji Berry Mint Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups yogurt I used cashew
- 1/2 cup zucchini peeled
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1/2 cup goji berry tea
- 1/2 cup peppermint tea
- crushed peppermint candy
Instructions
Prep
- Boil 1/4 cup dried goji berries in 1 cup of water until water reduces to 1/2 cup. Strain, keep goji pulp refrigerated for future smoothies. Add the resulting tea to the blender.
- Make peppermint tea from 3 tea bags. Boil them in 1 cup of water, reducing to 1/2 cup. Pour resulting tea into blender.
Make smoothies
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the blender. Blend up your smoothie, and serve with crushed peppermint and gingerbread cookies on top, and even a drizzle of coconut butter!
Nutrition
Dee Dine is founder of Green Smoothie Gourmet, a plant based recipe blog, and author of the recent cookbook, Crazy Healthy with 4 Ingredients . On this blog you’ll find incredibly easy recipes with hidden veggies for anyone wanting to eat healthier, regardless of diet. Dee has graduate degrees in biology, immunology and journalism. More about Dee Dine here.
Kellie
How did you use the crushed peppermint candy instead of peppermint flavor or peppermint tea?
Dee Dine | Green Smoothie Gourmet
Hi Kellie, I only topped the smoothie with the crushed candy, and we didn’t actually eat that, it was more for staging purposes. The peppermint flavor in the smoothie comes from the two options I list in ingredients of peppermint tea (my favorite) or peppermint extract or flavoring.. Enjoy! Dee xx
Nisha / @rainbowplantlife
A peppermint smoothie bowl? Could this be any cuter?! I love the pink color and candy cane festive vibes!
Debbie
Haha, Nisha, this really is a playtime bowl. I am not so keen on so many candy canes for breakfast! Haha, take care, Dee xx
Maria Koutsogiannis
Such a lovely, festive recipe Dee!! I love it!!!
Debbie
Maria! Thank you so much for stopping by! Glad you like my festive bowl! Dee xx