Make this easy vegan matcha ice cream at home with just four simple ingredients!
It’s 100% dairy-free and egg-free, using soy milk for a creamy, plant-based twist.
With a refreshing aroma, rich umami, and a clean, slightly bitter finish, this authentic Japanese green tea ice cream is as healthy as it is delicious.
Best of all, no ice cream maker is needed—just mix, freeze, and enjoy.
And to help you get the smoothest, melt-in-your-mouth texture, we’ll show you the trick to mixing matcha without any lumps.
Table of Contents
What is Matcha
See: Matcha-Flavored Granola page.
The Story Behind This Recipe
You'll find it in nearly every ice cream shop and supermarket freezer in Japan. But what makes matcha-flavored ice cream so popular?
First, the flavor. Matcha’s unique blend of bitterness, umami, and depth creates a taste that feels refined and distinctive. When made into ice cream, its richness is softened by the creamy texture, offering a balanced and refreshing dessert—especially appealing to adults.
Second, the health appeal. Matcha is known for its antioxidants (catechins) and calming amino acids (theanine), making it popular among health-conscious consumers. It’s also recognized globally as a Japanese superfood.
Third, the color. Matcha’s naturally vibrant green is rare and beautiful. In ice cream form, it stands out visually and adds to its appeal, especially on social media.
Finally, matcha ice cream represents a piece of Japanese tradition in a modern, accessible way. As interest in Japanese culture grows around the world, matcha has become a recognizable icon—symbolizing wellness, simplicity, and authenticity.
Ingredients (Serves 3–4)
- Plant-based heavy cream – 150 g / 5.3 oz
- Unsweetened soy milk – 150 g / 5.3 oz
- Sugar (white or cane sugar) – 30 g / 1.1 oz / 2 tbsp
- Matcha powder – 10 g / 0.35 oz / 1 tbsp
(Optional)
- Pinch of salt
- Sweetened red bean paste, mint – as desired
Instructions
| 1 |
 
| Sift the matcha powder into a bowl and mix it with the sugar. Point!! Matcha is a fine powder that tends to clump due to static electricity. It takes a little extra effort, but sifting it beforehand helps prevent lumps. Mixing it with sugar first also reduces static and helps keep the particles from sticking together. |
| 2 |  | Gradually add the soy milk to the matcha mixture while stirring. Point!! Don’t pour the soy milk all at once—adding it a little at a time helps blend the matcha smoothly and evenly. |
| 3 |  | Add the plant-based cream and a pinch of salt(optional). Mix well using a hand blender (You don’t need a hand blender as long as you mix it well.). |
| 4 |  | Pour the mixture into a freezer-safe container and freeze for about 1 hour. |
| 5 |  | Take it out and stir with a spoon to incorporate air. Then return it to the freezer and freeze for at least 1 more hour. Point!! You can do this just once, but if you have time, repeating the freeze-and-stir process a few times will help break up ice crystals and create a smoother texture. |
| 6 |  | Scoop into a bowl and garnish with sweet red bean paste or mint if desired. Enjoy! |
Top Spots in Japan We Recommend — Supermarket
If you visit popular tourist destinations like Kamakura or Kyoto, you’ll find plenty of shops selling matcha ice cream, soft serve, and even shaved ice.
But if you’re looking for a more everyday kind of matcha ice cream—the kind that Japanese people enjoy casually—try stopping by a larger supermarket.
The quality of ice cream sold in Japanese supermarkets is surprisingly high, and the value for money is excellent.
At medium-to-large supermarkets, you’ll likely find a wide variety of matcha ice creams.
Among them, the most frequently ranked No.1 in matcha ice cream popularity rankings is Häagen-Dazs Green Tea—and we highly recommend it as well!
With its perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, it’s widely loved and often considered the gold standard.
You can also find it at convenience stores.
If you visit Japan, we highly recommend picking one up at a supermarket or convenience store and enjoying it back at your hotel—it’s a simple, delicious way to experience the flavors of everyday Japan.