Green has always been associated with eco-friendly items and practices like using reusable bags, reusable containers and so on.
However, in Japan, the colour green has created a whole new image. And this is all because of matcha. Originally served only during traditional occasions, the use of green tea has now evolved and has now been added to some of your favourite snacks and desserts.
If you’re one of those who just fell in the green love, then here are some of the matcha-flavoured delights that you should be getting on your next trip to Japan.
Matcha Yokan
First up, we have yokan, one of the oldest Japanese sweets that are usually made from red bean paste, agar, and sugar. With a matcha twist given to it, it gives the yokan not only a distinctive green colour but also the rich flavour of this green love.
Matcha-Flavored KitKat
Next is the chocolate-covered wafers that originally came from the UK, but has apparently been almost “owned” by Japan, Kitkat. It was introduced in Japan in 1973 and it readily became a best-seller. Among all the 350+ flavours of KitKat that Nestle Japan has invented is the one made with creamy chocolate infused with matcha.
Matcha Ice Cream
Who would ever resist the strength and bold flavour of the green love when incorporated to your favourite summer heat-beater? Once you’ve tasted it you’ll be able to say you’re on the seventh heaven! The intense flavour of matcha has well-complemented the other ingredients of ice cream.
Matcha-flavoured ice cream isn’t just popular in Japan but all over the world. In Japan, matcha ice cream was first created in the 1960s and matcha soft serve in the 70s. It was in the 90s when bigger brands produced matcha flavoured ice cream and that’s when it became popular worldwide.
Oreo Matcha Cream
We all know that Oreo is one of the world’s favourite cookie. It’s a sandwich cookie with a cream filling in it. It has many flavours and matcha is one of them. The cream is milky, rich and buttery mixed with the bitterness of green tea that will make you wonder if you’ll share your oreo to others. Grab an oreo matcha cream now and dunk them in milk!
Matcha Pocky
Pocky is the most popular chocolate-covered stick biscuit in Japan produced by the Ezaki Glico company. It has different flavours you can choose from, including matcha. With plenty of sticks in a box, you can share it with your friends to satisfy your taste buds and your love for matcha in every bite.
Matcha-flavoured Mister Donut
Mister Donut Japan has teamed up with Gion Trujiri, an Uji tea shop in Kyoto just to give us a tasty range of matcha doughnuts and drinks. Mister Donut’s signature donut, Pon de Ring, was coated with Gion Tsujiri’s rich Uji matcha giving it a double matcha hit.
One of Mister Donut’s fluffy doughnut was filled with Uji matcha whipped cream and coated with matcha chocolate. The fluffy and chewy profiterole style doughnut was coated with matcha chocolate using Gion Tsuriji’s rich uji matcha. The brown sugar donut was also filled with matcha. Two special beverages were also made with matcha.
The only downside of these Mister Donut products is that they were available for a limited time only last April and no longer available right now.
Matcha White Chocolate Popcorn
Japan Frito-Lay, Ltd. is a brand that originates from Chicago, US. It released the Garrett Popcorn Shops, with the matcha and white chocolate flavoured popcorns. They have mixed Caramel Crisp to create a blend of bitter matcha and richly sweet white chocolate that complements with each other as you put them inside your mouth. This Matcha White Chocolate popcorn allows you to enjoy both Japanese and Western flavours in one.
Tokyo Banana Matcha Cake
Tokyo Banana is the popular souvenir item in Japan that most tourists add to their shopping list. You can find it in a variety of places in Japan, including airport, department stores, convenience stores, souvenir shops and Tokyo station. This soft sponge banana-shaped cake has a sweet banana custard cream filling. It comes in different flavours and among them is our green love. It even has a lovely green heart printed on the cake that made it even sweeter and makes your heart flutter.
Calbee Matcha Potato Chips
If you’re not into sweets and love chips instead, there is this variety from the brand Calbee.
The idea of matching green tea with potato chips makes this snack twice as delicious than before. The thick, ridged slices are drizzled with chocolate and uji matcha. The combination gives you a normal salty potato, mixed with the sweet and aromatic aftertaste of your dear matcha.
From being just a ceremonial green tea to a powerful flavouring that has been used by big brands to incorporate into their products, there would always be a Matcha-produced snack and dessert in every corner of Japan.
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