Green tea ice cream

Ice cream flavored with matcha, a powdered green tea, giving it a pale green color and a gently bitter, grassy flavor.

Green tea ice cream: Two scoops of pale green matcha ice cream in a small bowl, with a smooth creamy surface
  • Frozen desserts and sweet beverages
  • Japan

Also called: green tea iced cream, matcha ice cream

Green tea ice cream is made by whisking matcha into a dairy ice cream base, usually after sifting it to remove lumps, and then churning it as usual. The quality and amount of matcha determine the color and the balance between sweetness and the tea's slight bitterness. Better matcha gives a brighter green and smoother flavor.

It is one of the most popular ice cream flavors in Japan and is widely served at Japanese restaurants abroad. It pairs well with sweet red bean paste, mochi and fruit, and it is also used in parfaits, mochi ice cream and kakigōri.

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Nakamise-dori Street, Japan National Tourism Organization
  2. 4 Must-Try Matcha Dessert Shops with Gelato and Parfait, Japan National Tourism Organization