Matcha Ice Cream Introducing five carefully selected items you can buy in Japan!

Hello! Writer for Payke here.

This time, I will be carefully selecting and reviewing some of my recommended matcha flavored ice creams you can eat in Japan!

With its rich infusion of tea flavor,
matcha tends to be thought of as a luxury item from the olden days.
Nowadays, however, matcha is known as a flavoring for desserts,
being used in items such as chocolate, pudding, and so on.
Among such treats, matcha flavored ice cream is sold by various manufacturers, and can be purchased at many different stores.

Following on from this,
in this article I will be reviewing some different matcha flavored ice creams I recommend that can be purchased at supermarkets and convenient stores,
judging them on aspects such as flavor, and value for money!
Definitely keep this in mind before buying when you visit Japan.
Bitterness: The more stars, the more bitter it is
Taste: The more stars, the smoother the taste
Sweetness: The more stars, the sweeter it is
Value: The more stars, the higher the quality of the item against its price

①Meiji Essel Super Cup Matcha

Bitterness: ★★★☆☆
Taste: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★★★★☆
Value: ★★★☆☆
Available at: Family Mart Price: ¥140

Matcha flavored ice cream from the Essel Super Cup series.
Typical of the Essel Super Cup, an ice cream that has been sold all over Japan for many years,
its moderate bitterness and sweetness make this item perfect for those who are looking to try matcha flavored ice cream for the first time.
While this item may not come out on top when comparing the judging criteria to some of the other items on this list,
its average score means that many people will be able to enjoy its easy-to-eat flavor.

②MILCREA Koi Matcha

Bitterness: ★★★★★
Taste: ★☆☆☆☆
Sweetness: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★☆☆
Available at: Family Mart Price: ¥140

Mildly sweet milk ice cream, covered in Uji Matcha from Uji in Kyoto, a region famous in Japan for its tea.
Experience matcha’s rich, bitter taste with this ice cream.
While the rich matcha flavor of the outside layer gives quite a bitter kick,
this is perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the milk ice cream inside.

③Aisumanju Yame Matcha

Bitterness: ★★☆☆☆
Taste: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★★★★★
Value: ★★★☆☆
Available at: My Basket (AEON) Price: ¥140

This ice cream has a much more subdued bitterness compared to the ice creams I previously introduced.
The middle of this matcha ice cream contains adzuki (red bean) paste, an ingredient used in products such as Japanese confectionery.
The inner adzuki paste has a certain lightness to it, creating a new melt in the mouth sensation the moment it passes your lips!
The ice cream itself has a cross section shaped like a flower, lending it a very pretty look. You won’t be able to stop yourself uploading pictures to social media!

④Haagen-Dazs Green Tea

Bitterness: ★★★★☆
Taste: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆
Value: ★★★★☆
Available at: 7-Eleven Price: ¥300

Green tea flavored Haagen-Dazs, a brand famous across Japan for its “luxury ice cream.”
Although it is more expensive than the other ice creams being introduced here today, its high price is reflected in the high scores under each criterion.
Perhaps it may just be this item’s dignified presence, but even the picture has an air of luxury about it.
Many people in Japan buy Haagen-Dazs as little rewards for themselves!

⑤MOW Uji Matcha

Bitterness: ★★★★☆
Taste: ★★★★★
Sweetness: ★★★★☆
Value: ★★★★★
Available at: Family Mart Price: ¥140

Matcha flavored ice cream from the MOW series by Morinaga Milk, a Japanese company famous for their milk, yogurt and ice cream.
The MOW series is popular in Japan as ice cream which offers a rich taste true to its ingredients.
With its tag line “Momentary Smoothness,” this ice cream has the best smooth taste among all of the products introduced here today!!
The balance between bitterness and sweetness left no complaints, and the ice cream also received five stars for value!!

So, what did you think?
Did you manage to find a matcha flavored ice cream you like the sound of?
While I wasn’t able to cover every single matcha ice cream here today,
I’ll continue to keep you updated on the trends of “matcha flavored foods,” items featuring Japan’s signature flavor!!