It Can Help You Feel More Alert
If you like going for iced coffee drinks, try switching that out for matcha ice cream instead. Matcha has natural caffeine in it, but it helps prevent the post-coffee crash and jitters you sometimes get because of the amino acid L-theanine, which helps you focus while inhibiting the side effects of caffeine.
Does Green Tea Ice Cream Have Sugar
If you are purchasing your green tea ice cream, then it is almost certain that the brand will add sugar to the ice cream. This is true for companies such as Haagen-Dazs, Trader Joes, and Mr. Green Tea. They do use cane sugar instead of traditional white granulated sugar, however.
So, does this make these ice cream a healthier option? Well, on a molecular level, cane sugar and granulated sugar are essentially the same. Also, apart from carbs, cane sugar doesnt really contain any nutrients.
Still, as long as you enjoy cane sugar in moderation, there are a few benefits that you can enjoy. This includes more energy, a better mood, and also the storing of sugar as healthy fats.
Does Green Tea Ice Cream Contain Dairy
Most brands offering up the green tea flavor do contain dairy. It is quite difficult to find vegan versions at the moment, Snow Monkey is one of the few brands that dont contain dairy. Unfortunately, it is a bit tricky to find stores that sell the ice cream as it isnt widely available.
The good news is that the brand uses banana and apples to sweeten the ice cream and only contains 135 calories per two-thirds cup serving. Thus, if you are looking for a healthier option, then this could be it.
Also Check: Herbalife Tea Burns Calories
What Is Green Tea Ice Cream Made Of
Just like any typical flavor of ice cream , green tea ice cream is made with the same basic ingredients: whole milk, heavy cream, lots of sugar, and added flavor.
Green tea ice cream is flavored with matcha powder just like vanilla ice cream is flavored with vanilla bean.
Salt or some form of alcohol are other ingredients that are typically added to ice cream. These change the freezing temperature of the mixture.
Where Can I Buy Matcha
In Japan
These are the two matcha companies that I order from:
The Matcha Tokyo Organic Matcha and other organic matcha products are only available from The Matcha Tokyo Online Store.
Suisouen Organic Matcha can be purchased at www.suisouen.co.jp/
Suisouen matcha is now also available on Rakuten.
Rakuten prices are slightly more expensive than ordering directly.
In the United States
I tried Rishi brand, which was surprisingly pretty good.
I found Rishi matcha at the local co-op and at Whole Foods.
In our globalized world, you may be able to find good quality Japanese matcha at your local supermarket.
Im sure there are other good brands as well. Let me know if you need help!
Shopping Tip: By the smallest size you can find. Once you open the package, matcha will only last a few weeks max. Exposure to air causes it to oxidize. The bright green color will fade and its taste will go bad.
Don’t Miss: Dunkin Donuts Boba Coffee
Is There Caffeine In Green Tea Ice Cream
As you are probably aware green tea does contain caffeine around 28mg per cup. Some ice cream brands use matcha in their formula which contains even more. There is about 70mg in a single teaspoon of matcha.
Of course, these numbers arent really a good indication about how much caffeine is actually in your green tea ice cream. For one thing, not all brands are forthcoming about the type of green tea that they use or how much actually goes into their ice cream.
Due to this, it can be pretty tricky to get an accurate idea of how much caffeine you are consuming. When one consumer emailed Haagen-Dazs about this, the reply was that there was about 25mg of caffeine per ½ cup of ice cream.
If you are trying to limit your caffeine intake or are sensitive to caffeine, it is a good idea to always start with a scoop of the ice cream. Make sure to eat the ice cream earlier in the day as well so that the caffeine has plenty of time to leave your system.
Based on how you react to the ice cream, you can decide to increase or limit how much you consume at one time.
Is Green Tea Ice Cream Good For You
No, regular green tea ice cream that you might find at the supermarket isnt good for you.
Just like chocolate or vanilla ice cream, it’s made with the same full-fat cream and lots of added sugar.
That’s why it tastes so good!
To learn how to make your own matcha-flavored hard ice cream that’s actually healthy, find the recipe below!
Read Also: Dunkin Bubble Drinks
Tips For Making Vegan Matcha Ice Cream
#1 –Plan ahead. While you can keep vegan ice cream in the freezer for about a week, it’s tastes best when its freshly made. I make it for dessert, same day, and then use whatever is left over to add to my green smoothies for breakfast during the week.
#2 –Rock solid. The large amount of sugar added to regular ice cream helps keep ice cream soft. Because I don’t want to add all that sugar, my healthy, low sugar version freezes solid like a brick! That’s another reason why I recommend eating it fresh. Still, you can thaw it out until it’s soft enough to scoop.
#3 – Good quality ingredients. For this recipe to turn out, it’s important that you find the right coconut cream . The next most important ingredient is the matcha- it’s key that you find some decent quality matcha powder. You can read my recommendations for brands of matcha below.
What Kind Of Matcha Should I Use
Outside of Japan, I’ve noticed that there are three categories of matcha.
The lowest grade is cooking/culninary matcha for making desserts. There’s premium grade matcha for drinking it straight or making matcha lattes. Then, there’s “ceremonial” grade matcha to use for tea ceremonies or special occasions.
Ceremonial grade matcha that you see on supermarket shelves outside Japan may be better quality or it may be just marketing to justify a higher price.
When I choose matcha, I look for organic and make my judgement based on taste.
For this recipe, I recommend buying decent quality matcha or what you can afford.
Read Also: What Is Good To Mix With Twisted Tea
What Goes Good With Green Tea Ice Cream
Well, it isnt just about flavors that go well with green tea ice cream. It is also about the kind of flavors that you preserve.
Some people like to keep it traditional, adding components such as red bean paste or sweetened condensed milk. If you prefer a healthy accompaniment, then fruits citrus in particular will be an excellent addition to your scoop.
In case you would like a more indulgent treat, why consider chocolate? White chocolate is definitely a winner, but milk or dark chocolate may be a better option, depending on your preferences. Top it off with chopped nuts like pistachios and you will have yourself a sundae!
Of course, if you want the perfect flavor combination, it is all about a little trial and error. Or, ask others what they like to add to their green tea ice cream. You will be surprised by just how creative people can get. You will also be interested to learn just how amazing some of these pairings can be.
What Does Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream Taste Like
The ideal flavor of this refreshing treat should be a perfect balance of earthy, sweet, and slightly bitter. Because matcha is much more concentrated than regular green tea, you often dont need much to experience its robust profile.
This homemade ice cream recipe accentuates the deep intensity of matcha flavor and is rich in texture. Thats how matcha ice cream tastes like in Japan! It should not be overly creamy or milky like what youd expect from some commercial ice cream brands which downplays the distinct matcha character. In short, expect intense matcha in authentic Japanese ice cream. No weak matcha flavor here.
Since matcha ice cream contains caffeine, consider it the perfect hot weather pick-me-up!
Recommended Reading: Popping Boba At Dunkin
Matcha Hard Ice Cream
Just like any other flavor of ice cream, it comes in a cone or a dish with a spoon.
I remember when I went to Gunma prefecture, my okaasan would buy green tea-flavored Häagen-Dazs ice cream cups for after dinner.
Häagen-Dazs is probably the most well-known brand of hard ice cream in Japan nationwide. Green tea is one of their top three most popular flavors.
I also just checked out Baskin Robbins Japanese website- matcha green tea is one of their 31 flavors.
If you haven’t had green tea ice cream before, you have to try it. If you can’t find any near you, here is an indulgent-looking recipe from Nami at Just One Cookbook.
The Best Ice Cream Maker To Buy
This is the ice cream maker I bought in Japan. It was only about $20.
If you’re ok with spending a bit more more, Just One Cookbook used this ice cream maker for years. It’s currently “Amazon’s Choice”.
A step up from the Cuisinart, is this more convenient ice cream maker. It’s an investment but doesn’t require overnight pre-freezing like mine does.
Once you try making ice cream without an ice cream maker, you’ll understand why it’s so nice to have one.
But don’t let not owning one stop you. You gotta try this recipe!
Don’t Miss: Caffeine In Snapple Iced Tea
Is Green Tea Ice Cream Good For You: The Ultimate Trick Or Treat
Green tea ice cream may not be the healthiest treat around, but it certainly isnt bad for you either, especially if you enjoy it in moderation.
Since many of my clients are trying to eat healthier desserts, I often get asked is green tea ice cream good both in terms of health and taste. Therefore, I decided to do some digging to find out.
This post contains what green tea ice cream is made up of as well as what to expect in terms of taste. Lets learn more!
Contents
Make Green Tea Ice Cream Healthy
My mission when creating my vegan version was to make a green tea ice cream that’s non-dairy and contains no added refined sugar.
If possible, I wanted to avoid food additives like guar gum or xanthan gum.
I added the least amount of natural sweetener, honey, possible and still have it taste like an indulgent dessert.
You should enjoy eating this and not have to feel even a little bit guilty.
Plus, there are a lot of lactose intolerant people and they shouldnt be left out!
You May Like: Green Tea Lowers Blood Sugar
It’s Now Mid September I Finally Finished Perfecting This Recipe Now That’s It’s Practically Autumn
My mom owning a Vitamix and me having leftover ingredients were just the first two dots connecting.
What you’re seeing in this post is the final product.
What you’re not seeing is all the little coincidences, the influence from others, inspiration, and “mistakes” that led up to this recipe turning out so amazingly well.
It’s getting harder and harder for me to take credit for these recipes.
More and more, it feels like the universe is magically connecting one dot to the next for me.
All I have to do is be open, keep moving forward, and not give up when it feels like this damn recipe is never going to turn out right.
Because at one point, it felt like it was never going to turn to be more than a sloppy, light-green-colored disaster!
Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward. You have to trust that dots will somehow connect.
From my experience, they will. Just keep moving forward.
What If I Don’t Own An Ice Cream Maker
I assume you don’t own one, but you can still make really good matcha ice cream.
If you dont own an ice cream maker, this post has some helpful tips.
One tip I read on Minimalist Baker is to remove the chilled mixture from the freezer and stir /whisk to incorporate air every hour. Repeat until mostly firm: 6-8 hours. Continue freezing until completely firm before serving.
It wont yield as creamy results, but it should still work. Taking something out of the freezer and mixing it on the hour may not be feasible, especially if you have kids!
I never imagined that Id ever invest in an ice cream maker, but Im glad I did.
You May Like: Bubble Tea Dunkin Donuts
What Does Green Tea Ice Cream Taste Like
You dont need to be told that the exact flavor can vary from one brand to another. In some cases, the green tea taste isnt strong at all. Thus, the ice cream will tend to be sweeter. With other brands, the flavor will be noticeable and be a bit more bitter.
Keep in mind that the exact quality and type of green tea will impact on how the ice cream tastes. Therefore, it is quite possible that with higher quality leaves or extracts that you notice certain floral or vegetal flavor profiles.
As mentioned, some brands do use matcha instead of regular green tea. Then, does green tea ice cream taste like matcha in this case? Yes, it can. You may find that this ice cream does taste sweeter and creamier. Once again, this will depend on the kind of matcha that is used.
Alternative Ingredients For Vegan Ice Cream
If you’re 100% vegan, this recipe needs one slight alteration.
I used honey, which I hadn’t realized isn’t vegan.
I used coconut cream as my base. If you have an allergy to coconut, there are some other options besides coconut cream.
As a guideline, the higher fat content, the better. Think heavy cream.
I’m not certain that other non-dairy milks are thick enough to work for making ice cream, though its worth the try.
The most common alternative I see being used is cashew nut milk, which I tend to avoid because cashews are high in carbs.
Using avocado or banana as a base are two other non-dairy options.
Also Check: Does Sonic Have Boba Tea
What Is Green Tea Ice Cream
When you think of Japanese desserts, ice cream might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Japanese ice cream? Is it sushi flavored?
Now if we’re talking specifically about ice cream, green tea is probably the flavor that most people would associate with Japan.
Green tea ice cream is flavored with matcha, a high quality green tea that comes in powdered form.
If you can read Japanese, youll see that its more specifically called matcha ice cream. The name green tea ice cream is a simplified translation for the overseas market or tourists in Japan.
In Japan, youll find two types of green tea ice cream.
Plus You Can Receive A Limited
The Twist & Crunch flavours, Strawberry, Vanilla and Green Tea, are elevated with a twist in every spoonful. Each of them is swirled with smooth cocoa sauce and crunchy chocolate stracciatella bits that add a unique textural surprise. Besides being visually appealing , the new flavours will definitely satisfy any type of sweet cravings.
The first is the Belgian Chocolate & Strawberry Crunch. The Belgian Chocolate ice cream is made with 50 per cent cocoa that contrasts with the fruity and refreshing strawberry ice cream that contains flecks of fresh strawberries. And if youre looking for ice cream to enjoy on your own, this flavour is also available as a stickbar where the ice cream is coated in Belgian chocolate that snaps as you bite into it.
Next up is Belgian Chocolate & Vanilla Crunch, which is made for people who are caught in the age-old debate of chocolate versus vanilla. 100 per cent real cream as well as milk from France and Belgium, go into making this a luxurious staple youll want to always have in your freezer.
Finally, the limited-edition Dark Chocolate & Green Tea is made for tea and chocolate lovers. Dark chocolate ice cream made with 72 per cent cocoa is paired with fragrant and umami matcha green tea ice cream, resulting in a delightful dance between sweet and bitter.
Follow Häagen-Dazs Singapore on and for more updates.
Brought to you by Häagen-Dazs Singapore
- TAGS:
Recommended Reading: Which Is The Best Green Tea To Lose Belly Fat
Best Ingredients For Vegan Green Tea Ice Cream
After doing some research, I realized that making vegan ice cream the first time isnt easy.
Even the pros at Ben and Jerry’s and Häagen-Dazs say it was challenging to replicate the ice-creamy magic of real dairy with plant-based fats and proteins.
I didn’t give up. That little ice cream-loving boy inside of me whispered, ‘Keep trying‘.