Green Tea Matcha Nice Cream is sweet and subtly grassy flavored with hints of coconut and vanilla.

With its pretty green color, I wanted to share my Green Tea Matcha Nice Cream in time for St. Paddy’s Day! If you’re looking for a naturally green treat, this one is perfect. Those of you who love the flavor of matcha will go crazy for this recipe. However, if the full-bodied flavor of matcha isn’t really your thing, feel free to add a splash of mint extract and a handful of chocolate chips for a mint chocolate chip flavor profile. And you can bump up the nutrition and green color even more by adding a handful of spinach to this nice cream recipe! (For more St. Patrick’s Day fun, check out my post on how to naturally dye coconut green.)

Green Tea Matcha Nice Cream

Name: Green Tea Matcha Nice Cream
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 medium bananas (peeled, cut into 2-inch chunks, and frozen); 1 tablespoon full-fat coconut milk (or any kind of milk you like); 1 tablespoon agave nectar (see Note); 1 tablespoon matcha powder; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 pinch salt

Homemade Green Tea Matcha Nice Cream tastes way better than store-bought matcha ice cream! It’s subtly grassy and sweet, with hints of vanilla and coconut.

What Does Matcha Nice Cream Taste Like?

Matcha has a grassy, earthy flavor with a faint bitterness. Depending on how much matcha (green tea) powder the recipe calls for, the flavor will be a little different. In Matcha Nice Cream, banana is often used as the ice cream base, so the flavor of banana is also present. Sweetener (such as agave nectar or honey) balance matcha’s subtle bitterness. In my recipe for Matcha Nice Cream, I also add coconut milk and vanilla to create a balanced flavor profile.

Is There Caffeine in Matcha Nice Cream?

Yes, matcha is made from powdered whole Japanese green tea leaves and it contains caffeine.

Does Matcha Have as Much Caffeine as Coffee?

One (8 ounce) cup of matcha prepared with 1 teaspoon (2 grams) matcha powder has about 70 milligrams of caffeine (as per Tenzo Tea). One (8 ounce) cup of brewed coffee has 92 milligrams of caffeine (according to the USDA National Nutrient Database).

Not only is matcha a bit lower in caffeine than coffee is, but the caffeine in matcha effects the body differently. Matcha contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which slows down the release of caffeine and actually has a calming effect. As a result, matcha is known for having a “clean high” without the jitters. (Read more about the caffeine in matcha on Cosmopolitan, Got Matcha, and Tenzo Tea.

Is Green Tea Ice Cream Healthy?

Green tea ice cream is only as healthy as the ingredients that go into it. Try to avoid green tea ice cream with a lot of sugar. My recipe for Matcha Nice Cream uses only 1/2 tablespoon of agave nectar per serving, and you can use stevia instead to cut sugar. Also, matcha itself has a few great health benefits, including the fact that it’s rich in antioxidants and chlorophyll, and is helpful for detox.

Does Green Tea Ice Cream Have Dairy?

Some brands of store-bought green tea ice cream contain dairy; to avoid those with dairy, read the label before purchasing. My recipe for Matcha Nice Cream is vegan and does not contain dairy.

Ingredients in Matcha Nice Cream:

Banana
Full-fat coconut milk
Agave nectar
Matcha powder
Vanilla
Salt

More Green Tea Recipes:

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