Chai Tea Protein Smoothie

I recently had people over for brunch and people were asking for a cup of coffee ... coffee is so far off my radar, I didn't even think about it! I don't even own a coffee machine. I do have some instant decaf coffee that I use for cooking ... they thought I was crazy! I do have loads of tea though! I love my chai teas. However, after I do a workout in the morning the last thing I want is a hot cup of tea. Like many of you, I still do need the extra pick me up though, workout or not, so I enjoy icing my teas.

Over the weekend, I wanted to have a smoothie ready for the next morning. I knew we were going to be in a rush and I knew I would want some tea. I used the last bit of my Chai Tea Latte mix last week and I have been craving it ever since so I decided to try a Chai Smoothie. It was awesome! It did take a bit longer than expected. I kept adding spices little by little and it just wasn't spicy enough, but I finally got it and next time it will be a breeze! It made enough for me to enjoy three mornings in a row which was an added bonus. It was filling, it gave me a little boost and most importantly, it was delicious!

Try taking a break from the coffee and try a boosting protein-packed smoothie instead! It's great to make over the weekend and have it ready to go Monday morning.

Chai Protein Smoothie

Makes 4 cups

1 1/2 c cashews, raw and soaked for 2 hours
3 c black tea, or your favorite decaf tea
2 T maple syrup
2 T hemp or chia seeds
1 t vanilla extract
2 t cinnamon
2 t ginger
2 t allspice
1 t ground cloves
1 t cardamon
1/4 t black pepper

First, make your tea.

Them put all ingredients in a high speed blender until nice and smooth. If you are drinking it right away, add some ice to cool it down otherwise, place it in a container and let it cool in the refrigerator until you are ready to drink it.