Matcha Shaved Ice: Flavor & Pairings

What does Matcha taste like?

Matcha shaved ice is toasty, lightly bitter, umami — the kind of flavor that makes people close their eyes on the first spoonful. Its deep green color comes through beautifully in fluffy hand-shaved snow, so it looks as good as it tastes.

Because our snow is shaved fresh rather than crushed, matcha syrup soaks evenly through every ribbon instead of pooling at the bottom. That means the last bite is just as flavorful as the first.

Where Matcha comes from

Matcha traces back to Japan, and it carries a little of that place in every spoonful. Stone-ground shade-grown tea leaves give matcha its vivid color and gentle caffeine lift.

Part of the fun of a shaved ice menu is that it's a passport — a single counter can hop from a Hawaiian beach to a Taiwanese night market to a desert roadside stand.

Best toppings for matcha shaved ice

Our favorite way to serve it is with sweet red bean and mochi, which balances the sweetness and adds texture. A few more combinations worth trying:

• Fresh fruit that echoes the flavor, cut into little cubes
• A jelly or boba for a chewy contrast
• A drizzle of condensed milk or coconut cream to round it out
• A tiny sugar blossom on top, because we can't help ourselves

Explore more: Our menu · Make it at home · More Flavors · All locations