Matcha Pudding (抹茶プリン) is soft custard pudding flavored with Matcha powder. Pudding is not very Japanese, but just by adding Matcha flavor, it becomes a great ending for a Japanese meal.
Kakigori (かき氷) is Japanese shaved ice with flavored syrup. It is very popular during the hot and humid summer in Japan, and there are a lot of pop up Kakigori stores appearing in the season.
Although you can get shaved ice here too, usually as a snow cone in the US, Kakigori is very different from that. Snow cones often use crushed ice or ice shaved in thicker pieces. Japanese shaved ice is very soft and fluffy, and melts in your mouth like newly fallen snow. It doesn’t have much crunchy texture at all. Hawaii also has a version called “shave ice” that is becoming popular in other states as well. It’s based on and very similar to Japanese Kakigori, but some of the flavorings are different.
Iced Matcha Latte is a cold milk drink with Matcha green tea powder and sweetener. It’s not really a latte since there is no espresso in it. But, it has became very popular since a big coffee shop chain put it on their menu.
Matcha green tea-flavored desserts are now popular worldwide, and matcha ice cream seems to be just as beloved in the U.S. as it is in Japan. Since matcha pairs well with dairy, it’s a naturally delicious choice for ice cream. In fact, matcha ice cream has become a well-known Japanese dessert in the U.S., extending its appeal beyond just Japanese cuisine.