The Best Matcha Green Snacks You Need to Try!

Matcha green tea is one of Japan’s most beloved drinks. With unique features, health benefits, and a rich history, it’s no surprise that matcha is popular inside and outside the country. We’ve decided to show you some of the more popular options. Don’t be shy—join us as we look at the best matcha Japanese snacks you need to try!

What is matcha? 

Matcha is finely powdered green tea. It’s the most bitter green tea grade but is also thick and creamy. Most matcha is produced in Uji City (Kyoto Prefecture), and the high quality of the tea has earned Uji the nickname “Town of Matcha.” 

This green tea has several health benefits, including antioxidants that reduce disease risk, a longer lifespan, and possible weight loss. When matcha was brought to Japan from China around the 12th century, monks and the nobility first used it as a medicinal drink. Later, it spread to the lower classes and is still used in traditional tea ceremonies today.

Matcha can be a hot or cold drink, flavoring tea lattes and frappucinos. However, it’s available in many food items, including some you wouldn’t have considered. Here are some Japanese snacks that use matcha green tea!  

Matcha Green Chocolate 

A blend of white chocolate and green tea, matcha chocolate is in Japanese snacks like Uji Matcha Kit-Kats and Matcha Meiji Meltykiss. The sweet chocolate balances out the slightly bitter yet smooth matcha, creating an addictive treat you’ll want to share with family and friends (or not)!

Kyoto has many stores where you’ll find matcha chocolate treats. Nakamura Tokichi sells matcha nama chocolate, while Malebranche offers Cha no Ka matcha cookies filled with white chocolate. Then there’s Nanaya, which sells seven matcha ice cream and dark matcha chocolate levels. 

Matcha chocolate is also easy to make and incorporate into desserts such as cookies, cupcakes, and cheesecakes. For a fancier option, try matcha nama chocolate, which uses heavy cream to give the chocolate a melt-in-your-mouth feeling. If you’re looking for something comforting, one of these matcha chocolate Japanese snacks should do the trick.

Green Tea Soba Noodles 

Our next item might raise a few eyebrows: green tea soba noodles. Soba uses buckwheat, which people usually eat on New Year’s Eve. Japanese people cook toshikoshi soba (year-crossing soba) to cut themselves off from the hardships and regrets of the Old Year.

Due to its soluble fiber, vitamin, and mineral content, soba is healthier than other noodles. Health benefits include reduced inflammation, controlling blood sugar, and possible weight loss. Combining matcha and soba creates a delicious and nutritious dish, especially when prepared with vegetables and low-calorie sauces.

People enjoy green tea soba noodles in various ways. Usually, they’re eaten cold dipped in a tsuyu/mentsuyu sauce made with dark soy sauce, sake, mirin, and dashi (bonito and kelp flakes). They can also be added to soups and stir-fries. While these Japanese snacks might appear odd initially, we guarantee they’ll become a staple of your pantry.

Are you interested in some matcha snacks? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat delivers limited-edition Japanese noodles, snacks, drinks, and sweets right to your door so you can enjoy the latest spring goodies directly from Japan!

Matcha Curry 

Finally, matcha curry is the most bizarre item on our Japanese snacks list. While it seems strange, the combination makes sense. Japanese curry is milder and sweeter than East Indian curry. Paired with the bitterness of Uji matcha, it creates a unique tasting experience, starting with the green color.

Since 2014, matcha curry has been available to try in person at Itohkyuemon in Kyoto or ordered online from their website. People who tried the dish were surprised by its color and the strong taste of matcha. Itohkyuemon eased up on the bitterness and raised the spice a few years after the curry’s release, but the fantastic combination has remained the same. 

Matcha curry can be microwaved or boiled in hot water on the stove and is typically eaten with steaming white rice. Since it has vegetables and meat already inside, it’s perfect for a quick meal. We recommend that you give this unusual dish a try!

Why should I try these matcha green tea snacks? 

Interesting flavor combinations. While combining chocolate and ice cream with matcha green tea makes sense, other Japanese snacks (like matcha curry) seem more random. Don’t let the mixture scare you. It’s good to get out of your comfort zone and try something new.

Healthier food options. Because of matcha’s health benefits, some green tea snacks are lower in calories and higher in nutrients. While you still need to eat them in moderation, you can feel less guilty about indulging.

A different way to experience matcha. Would you think of eating it in curry? How about noodles? You learn to think outside the box by trying these green tea treats. Matcha is about more than just drinking tea! Have you tried any of these matcha Japanese snacks? Which of them is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below.