Capture the flavors of your favorite chai latte in this refreshing Banana Chai Smoothie! The chai spices complement the natural sweetness of the banana and dates. Plus, the fiber content helps keep you full and satisfied until your next meal.
What’s Included In This Post
Haven’t you heard? Fiber is trending! As a dietitian, I’m glad to see fiber start to get some well-deserved attention.
Yes, protein is important, as are fats, carbs, vitamins, and minerals. But fiber supports heart health, gut health, and more. It’s only found in plant foods like whole grains, beans and legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. And since most people don’t get the recommended amount of fiber in their diet each day, it’s well worth focusing on!
That’s where this high-fiber Banana Chai Smoothie comes in. You’ll get about 9 grams of fiber in a single glass. And as this recipe proves, a nutritious smoothie doesn’t have to be bland or boring. Once you take a sip, this might become your new go-to breakfast smoothie!
For more tasty ways to boost your fiber intake, check out this list of high-fiber recipes.
Masala chai (or simply “chai”) is a tea-based drink that originated in India. “Chai” means “tea” so this chai-spiced banana smoothie draws inspiration from the warming spices found in a masala chai spice blend.
Chai tea bags use black tea as the base, but add a combination of other spices and seasonings. It can vary by brand, and each traditional or family recipe may have unique ingredients. Typically, chai spice blends include green cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black pepper. Some versions also include star anise or nutmeg.
Personally, I like the Chai blend from Burlap and Barrel. They consistently impress me with the quality and their commitment to supporting small farms and spice growers. This is a great option if you don’t have the ingredients to make a homemade blend.
Banana Chai Smoothie Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for this creamy chai smoothie:
- Rolled oats or quick oats
- Oatmilk
- Banana
- Medjool dates, which add natural sweetness plus some additional fiber
- Chai spice
- Hemp hearts, chia seeds, or ground flax for fiber, as well as some plant-based protein and heart-healthy fats
- Ice cubes
Street Smart Nutrition Tip: Did you know oatmilk contains fiber? During processing, some of the fiber that naturally occurs in the oats is transferred to the final product. That’s why it’s my top pick, since it has more fiber than other plant-based options like soy milk, almond milk, or coconut milk. However, you can use these alternatives if oatmilk isn’t available.
Swap and Substitutions
If you aren’t sticking to a vegan smoothie recipe, you can replace the oatmilk with regular milk (dairy). Just be aware that regular milk doesn’t contain any fiber (even though it does have more protein), and some plant-based milk alternatives are flavored or sweetened with added sugar.
If you want a thicker, more creamy texture in your chai smoothie, you can also add a scoop of almond butter. I recommend this option since it won’t overpower the flavor from the chai spice. However, peanut butter would also work well.
Feel free to add extra fruit, like fresh or frozen berries. This is a great way to get a few extra grams of fiber, too.
If you’re looking for more protein, add a scoop of your favorite protein powder. During recipe testing, I found this worked best with unflavored or vanilla options. You can also add a scoop of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for extra protein.
Finally, you can replace the chai spice with a chai tea bag or chai concentrate if needed. Start with a small amount and adjust the flavor based on your taste preferences.
How to Make a Banana Chai Smoothie
- Start by removing the pits if you’re working with unpitted dates. If they feel too firm to easily blend, soak them in a small bowl of warm water for about five minutes.
- From there, simply add a scoop of ice cubes to your blender. Add the pitted dates, banana, oats, chai spice, and hemp hearts along with the oat milk.
- Pulse a few times to combine everything, then blend on high speed until thick and creamy. Serve with a dusting of chai spice and enjoy!
Blending Tips
- For best results, add the ice cubes at the bottom of the blender. This helps make sure they get fully blended with no chunks remaining.
- A high-speed blender is ideal if you want the oats to blend down to a super smooth texture. However, a bullet-type blender can get similar results by blending longer with slightly more liquid.
- If you prefer a more concentrated flavor, use frozen bananas and leave out the ice cubes. This is a great way to keep overripe bananas out of the trash and cut down on food waste.
And although this recipe is written as a single serving, you can make a double or triple batch if you want. Save the extra smoothie in a silicone ice cube tray. Then you’ll have a quick breakfast option for busy mornings. Just add them to your blender along with an extra splash of oatmilk and blend until smooth.
Banana Chai Smoothie
Ingredients
- 5-6 large ice cubes
- 1 small banana
- 2 large medjool dates, pitted
- 1/4 cup old fashioned or rolled oats
- 1 tbsp hemp hearts
- 1/2 tsp chai spice blend, or to taste
- 1/2 cup regular oat milk
Instructions
- If needed, soak the dates in a small bowl of warm water for about five minutes to soften them before blending. Once softened, drain the water.
- Add the ice cubes to the bottom of your blender. Add the Medjool dates, banana, oats, hemp hearts, and chai spice blend. Pour the oat milk into the blender and seal the lid.
- Pulse several times to combine, then blend on high speed until smooth.
- Transfer to a glass and serve immediately. Sprinkle additional hemp hearts or chai spice on top, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This banana chai smoothie recipe is a favorite during the fall, but I rely on it year-round for a hefty boost of fiber. Be sure to check out some of my other smoothie recipes that use similar ingredients, like my Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie.
If you give it a try, leave a rating or comment to let me know what you think! And as always, thanks for stopping by the Street Smart Nutrition blog. Cheers to more fearlessly nourishing meals!
Disclosure: This post was originally published in October 2017. It has since been updated to improve the overall quality of the information, recipe, and images.
Questions & Reviews
I need to make one of these for my husband. He’s had digestive issues ever since I have known him, so this sounds like it could help.
I think digestive issues are more common than we realize, many of us don’t talk openly about them! And this a great option because it’s based on real foods, not expensive supplements! Enjoy 🙂
I always loved chai tea so I would find this banana chai smoothie perfect. I never had kefir so I need to learn more about its benefits and taste.
I hope you find some to enjoy! I like the plain version but vanilla or coconut flavored kefir would also be delicious in this smoothie!
Banana and chai are two of my favourite things so I’m sure that I’m gonna love this smoothie! I’ll have to give it a go really soon!
Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by to check it out
I love this post. It was so refreshing to read something with substance and that banana chai smoothie looks like something I could put together for sure. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Andrea, I appreciate that! This topic is fascinating and there’s so much info to share, it’s a challenge to summarize it all in just one post!
I’ve never really done much with chai before so this sounds like a good way to ease into it! I love all things banana and smoothies!
I agree! I experimented with half a teabag and the flavor was very mild – that would be a good place to start if you’re not sure about chai spice!
Yogurt and other dairy products are definitely a given! I had no idea about the Miso though. That’s really awesome to know. Thanks for the very helpful and informative post. That smoothie looks amazing.
Thanks for stopping by to check it out!
This recipe looks delicious! Thank you for not only sharing the recipe but the health benefits as well!
Of course, thanks for stopping by to check it out!
I am sure my husband would love this. He is a huge fan of chai and the recipe makes me think it might taste a little like a banana pudding.
It’s not far off! The less ripe the banana, the more prebiotic fiber but the more ripe the banana, the sweeter the flavor. It’s a good way to use up any kind of banana so use whatever you’ve got!
OH I want to try to make this! I am always looking for new ways to enjoy chai flavors!
Same, I love the challenge of working these flavors into other recipes. The aroma is always so good, along with great flavor!
Wow, that was very informative about prebiotic foods. I was familiar with probiotics, but not with prebiotics!
Thanks for checking it out! I love that probiotics are almost always found in food sources, making it easier to get more of them in my daily routine!
This sounds like a wonderful flavor combination with excellent health benefits. I definitely need to get back into preparing smoothies for breakfast!
This looks delicious and perfect for breakfast! Love that you added bananas, I always love my smoothies with bananas for a sweet creamy texture!
Probiotics are so good for you!! Both my daughter and I take probiotics daily!!! I wish more people knew the benefits
I agree! Great to hear you’re both doing something helpful for your health!
Smoothies are something I have been adding more of into my diet. This one looks like it tastes amazing!
They’re a great option for busy mornings! Thanks for stopping by to check it out!
I have always made smoothies that had chocolate with my banana but I need to try this. I bet I would really like it!
Banana + chocolate is a tough flavor combo to beat 🙂 if you give this one a try, enjoy!
Chai tea is my go to for drinks. I love a chai latte. I also love a banana in my smoothie. It adds great flavor and creaminess. I can only imagine how delicious this chai smoothie tastes.
Very informative — always looking for ways to help my gut. Thanks!
Great info and a super tasty recipe! I love using kefir!