Green Tea Ice Cream Matcha is a decadent yet refreshing treat that beautifully highlights the subtle, grassy notes of good-quality matcha green tea. A custard base with cream, whole milk and egg yolks makes this rich homemade ice cream! The matcha powder lends its brilliant green color as well as flavor. The matcha provides a subtle bitterness that perfectly juxtaposes the sugar’s sweetness and cream’s creaminess.
Crisp in a churn with an ice cream maker makes a creamy, frictionless consistency. This ice cream is a well-crafted vehicle to taste Japanese matcha — frozen and creamy- perfect for those hot days or as a small post-dinner dessert. This Green Tea Ice Cream enjoyed on its own or with a dessert of mochi, red bean paste, or fresh berries, deliciously rounds out any dinner party with a touch of homemade elegance in every bite.
Introduction to Green Tea Ice Cream Matcha
Green Tea Ice Cream matcha is a unique and flavorful dessert that pairs matcha’s earthy, slightly astringent taste with the smooth creaminess of homemade ice cream. Matcha is a fine powder made from just shade-grown green tea. Matcha imparts its unique, refreshing flavor to ice cream, subtly countering the sweetness of cream and sugar. This provides for a delicious dessert, and matcha has so many health benefits that now this is a sinful yet healthy treat.
Health Benefits of Matcha
Matcha is rich in antioxidants — which fight disease — but contains vitamins and minerals your body needs to support overall health. Here are some of the most severe health benefits that Matcha gives such as:
- High in Antioxidants: Matcha contains a particular group of antioxidants known as catechins, which neutralize oxidative stress and may help prevent chronic diseases.
- The benefits matcha offers include: It boosts metabolism — Studies have shown that Matcha helps to increase the rate at which your body burns off fat, which makes it an excellent choice for weight management.
- Enhances Mental Clarity: Caffeine coupled with the L-theanine in Matcha creates a far smoother energy-lifting impact, offering enduring focus and concentration without any jitters compared to coffee.
- Heart Health Support: The antioxidants in Matcha may help lower cholesterol levels and promote heart health, at least according to some studies.
- Contains Calmness: The presence of L-theanine in Matcha also promotes relaxation and helps to relieve tension, making it an ideal dessert option after a long day at work.
The Secret to the Perfect Custard Base
This ice cream is made with a creamy custard base of egg yolks, heavy cream, whole milk and sugar. The custard is flavored with matcha powder for a creamy texture and bright green color. This ice cream is made by cooking a custard, so it needs to be cooked gently to ensure silkiness. Then, it needs to be cooled before you can churn it. The result is a decadent dessert that is rich and, better yet, made with the benefits of matcha!
How to Make It
Homemade Green Tea Ice Cream (Matcha) While the best results will require an ice cream maker, it is a pretty simple process:
- Warm the milk and cream, then whisk it into your matcha-egg yolk mixture.
- Chris Ann Dashiell Coat the custard and thicken it over low heat.
- Pass through a fine sieve to remove lumps, cool entirely and churn in the ice cream machine until fluffy.
- Transfer to an airtight container, freeze for a few more hours until firm, and you will have a smooth, creamy, delicious matcha ice cream.
Why You’ll Love It
Green Tea Ice Cream Matcha hits the summer trifecta of taste. Matcha has a mildly bitter flavor that combines beautifully with the sweet cream, and since this dish is smooth in texture, each mouthful melts in your mouth. This is a sophisticated dessert, so it feels decadent yet offers profound health benefits due to the matcha. It is a beautiful introduction to the health benefits of green tea for anyone who might not ordinarily drink it.
Nutrition Table & Health Benefits
Here’s a table summarizing the health benefits of matcha and the nutrition for each serving of the ice cream:
| Health Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Rich in Antioxidants | Matcha is packed with catechins, which help combat free radicals and oxidative stress, contributing to overall health and disease prevention. |
| Boosts Metabolism | The natural compounds in matcha can help increase fat burning and boost metabolism, promoting healthy weight management. |
| Enhances Mental Focus | Matcha contains caffeine and L-theanine, which together provide a sustained energy boost, improving focus and reducing the risk of energy crashes. |
| Supports Heart Health | Matcha has been linked to lower cholesterol levels and improved heart health due to its antioxidant content. |
| Promotes Relaxation | L-theanine in matcha helps to relax the mind and reduce stress, making this a great dessert to unwind with. |
Nutrition (per serving):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 280 kcal |
| Fat | 20g |
| Carbohydrates | 20g |
| Protein | 3g |
| Sugar | 18g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Sodium | 50mg |
Green Tea Ice Cream Matcha
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Whisk
- Mixing bowls
- Fine-mesh sieve
- Ice cream maker (or shallow container if no ice cream maker)
- Spatula
- Thermometer (optional but helpful for custard)
- Airtight container for storing ice cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup sugar adjust to taste
- 2 tbsp matcha powder high-quality
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
Prepare the Matcha Base:
- Place the milk and cream in a medium saucepan. Gently warm over medium heat until steaming (but do not let it boil).
- Meanwhile, whisk the sugar and matcha powder with the egg yolks in another bowl until combined and pale.
Temper the Eggs:
- Whisking continuously to prevent the eggs from curdling, slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the bowl of egg yolks.
- Transfer the mixture back into the saucepan and place it over medium/ low heat to thicken, stirring constantly until it coats a spatula (170°F/77°C).
Strain the Custard:
- Remove the custard from the heat and pass it through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any lumps or bits of cooked egg.
Cool and Chill:
- Strain the custard, then stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine.
- Chill the custard, uncovered until cool to room temperature, then cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Churn the Ice Cream:
- Once the custard is cold, transfer it into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s directions (approximately 20–25 minutes).
Freeze and Serve:
- Pour the churned ice cream into a container that you can cover tightly and place in your freezer for at least 4 hours to set.
- Dig into your Green Tea Ice Cream once set!
Notes
No Ice Cream Maker? If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour the chilled custard into a shallow container and freeze. Stir it every 30 minutes for the first 2 hours to help prevent ice crystals from forming.
References
Matcha Nutrition And Health Benefits – Keicha Tea World
Ultimate Guide to Ninja Creami Recipes
The Ultimate Recipe Guide: Answers to Common Cooking Questions