Black Pepper Free Hibiscus-Berry Strawberry Smoothie with Flaxseed
Bright, tangy, and deeply fruity, this smoothie is built around a base of homemade hibiscus tea that gives it a gorgeous ruby color and a floral tartness you simply can't get from plain water or juice. Frozen strawberries, mixed berries, and banana blend into something thick and creamy, while ground flaxseed adds a subtle nuttiness along with a boost of fiber and healthy fats. A touch of ground ginger, turmeric, and fresh lemon juice round out the flavor in a way that feels vibrant and a little sophisticated without being fussy. For anyone navigating a sensitivity to black pepper, smoothies can actually be a surprisingly tricky category — many spice blends and pre-made mixes sneak it in — but every ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify. Steeping the hibiscus flowers yourself takes just ten minutes and makes a real difference, infusing the whole drink with a deep berry-floral note that store-bought options rarely match. A drizzle of honey or maple syrup keeps it naturally sweet, and the whole thing comes together in under a minute of blending once your tea has cooled. Serve it immediately for the best texture, and don't skip the fresh strawberry garnish if you want it to look as stunning as it tastes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the hibiscus tea
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
For the smoothie
- 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries
- ½ cup frozen mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries)
- 1 medium banana, peeled and frozen
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
For serving
- fresh strawberry slices (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, add the dried hibiscus flowers, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof cup, discard the flowers, and let the tea cool for at least 5 minutes until no longer steaming.
- 2
Add the cooled hibiscus tea, frozen strawberries, frozen mixed berries, frozen banana, ground flaxseed, ground ginger, ground turmeric, honey, and lemon juice to a blender.
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