The brisk bitter taste of powdered green tea contrasts well with the sweetness of sugar and emphasizes its flavor, so powdered green tea is commonly used for flavoring in confectioneries like icecream, which has become one of the standard flavors now in Japan (according to a survey conducted by The Japan Ice Cream Association, it was ranked third after vanilla and chocolate icecream in consumption between 1999 and 2007.)
爽やかな苦味は砂糖の甘味と良く馴染み風味が際立つため、菓子のフレーバー付けにも好まれ、抹茶味のアイスクリームは日本では定番風味の一つともなっており、日本アイスクリーム協会の調査では1999年から2007年まで、バニラ、チョコレートに次いで第三位の地位を占めている。