Top 10 Renowned Ice Cream Varieties in Japan

Matcha is a famous type of green tea powder from Japan. Upon tasting, it has a slightly bitter flavor at first, then gradually mellows out. Particularly, it boasts an incredibly enticing aroma. This allure has contributed to matcha's popularity as an ingredient in many Japanese dishes and is highly favored. Japanese chefs have used this green tea powder to make ice cream, creating one of the most beloved ice cream flavors in the country.

In Tokyo (Japan), there is an ice cream parlor specializing in traditional Japanese-flavored ice creams such as matcha, red bean, and some others. However, what sets it apart from other ice cream shops is the matcha ice cream. Not because the matcha here is tastier than elsewhere, but because the matcha here comes in 7 levels. At level 1, the matcha flavor is very faint, similar to the matcha ice cream we often have at convenience stores. Levels 2 and 3 are described as excellent, rich matcha flavors, and those sensitive to tea might find level 3 a bit overwhelming. As you go up each higher level, you'll experience a clearer matcha taste.

Considered the first mochi ice cream, Yukimi Daifuku made its debut in 1981 and quickly garnered the affection of many Japanese. This ice cream is wrapped inside a mochi rice cake and comes in a variety of flavors to suit the preferences of customers of all ages. It consists of a vanilla ice cream ball wrapped in a thin layer of mochi rice cake and then soaked in coconut milk.

The ice cream comes in three sizes: a box containing two ice cream pieces, with a plastic spoon for eating; a 'small yukimi daifuku box' with nine smaller ice creams with nine spoons; and a 'three-color yukimi daifuku box containing three flavors: green tea, chocolate, and vanilla ice cream. Many people express a preference for the sweet vanilla flavor.

Anmitsu is a dessert served in charming bowls. Each bowl contains agar jelly, mochi, fruits, beans, and a few other ingredients. Simply place a scoop of ice cream on top of the Anmitsu bowl, and you're ready to enjoy. The Anmitsu ice cream features the softness of the thick white mochi, the clarity of the agar jelly, the fresh green of the green tea ice cream, the deep red of the beans, and the vibrant colors of fresh fruit. Just by looking at it, you can already feel the refreshing sweetness on your tongue from the various ingredients.

Not only beautiful, Anmitsu also promises to be a very interesting dish. Although each ingredient is nothing special on its own, when combined, the harmony of the soft texture from the mochi, the cool fragrant taste from the green tea ice cream, the sweet richness from the beans, the crispness of the agar jelly, and the sweet and sourness from the fresh fruit... create a perfect ice cream dessert for the land of the rising sun.

At first glance, this dish seems unrelated to ice cream, but its special feature is the ice cream placed on top of the bread layer. This dish is often presented with a slice of toast placed on a plate with a scoop of ice cream in the middle. Honey can be spread directly on the bread before baking or poured over the bread if you have a sweet tooth. In some restaurants, it's also served with various fruits for added freshness.

Japanese Honey Toast: A baked bread dessert topped with caramel honey, ice cream, fruit, and whipped cream. This is one of the intriguing dishes in Japan. You'll fall in love with this large, sweet, and delicious honey toast for breakfast.

Monaka represents a traditional Japanese dessert. It features a crispy outer shell, usually rectangular in shape. Inside, it contains ingredients like sweet bean paste, mochi, crushed peanuts, and more. What sets it apart is the addition of a scoop of ice cream in the middle, resembling a sandwich with monaka serving as the bread and ice cream as the filling.

Depending on the store, Monaka cakes come in various shapes, but generally, they are round. Some are even molded into characters from cartoons or trains. Traditionally, monaka referred to cakes filled with red bean paste, but nowadays, even those filled with different ingredients are called monaka. The most famous type is the 'Ice Monaka,' filled with vanilla ice cream.

Coolish is a brand of soft serve ice cream sold in Japan. The ice cream is packaged in a pouch, thermally insulated with a small tube at the top for dispensing. Among the flavors of Coolish, vanilla is the most popular. For this product, it needs to be left outside the freezer, refrigerator compartment,… for a while before consumption to fully experience its flavor and uniqueness.

Coolish ice cream is the choice for ice cream lovers preparing for long trips. Coolish is extremely convenient, portable, and comes in a variety of flavors.

'Suika Ba' in Japanese means 'watermelon stick'. Just the name alone helps us imagine the appearance of this dish. Suika Ba is a popsicle-shaped ice cream resembling a slice of watermelon. The red flesh of the watermelon is the ice cream, and the watermelon seeds are small chocolate pieces. Holding a Suika Ba ice cream stick in hand during the summer is already refreshing enough.

This is an ice cream you can find in supermarkets or convenience stores. It's suitable for hot summer days. If you ever visit the Land of the Rising Sun, don't miss out on this interesting ice cream.