When it comes to ice cream flavors, Japan certainly knows how to push the boundaries.
From wasabi and soy sauce flavored scoops paired with seaweed toppings to serving a scoop of mashed sweet potatoes on top or even mixing in squid ink into their soft serve for an extravagant taste sensation.
Here are 11 strange Japanese ice cream flavors and toppings.
Table of Contents
1. Wasabi
In Japan, ice cream flavors are not restricted to vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry.
They have some strange and unique flavors too!
Wasabi is a popular ingredient in Japanese cuisine known for its pungent taste which can make one’s eyes water but surprisingly it’s also made into an ice-cream flavor there.
The combination of the spicy wasabi blended with creamy coldness makes this dessert a delicacy, especially during summer.
It’s definitely not your everyday kind of ice cream but worth giving it a try when you visit Japan if you’re looking for something unique and different from than usual sweet treats offered elsewhere!
2. Squid Ink
Squid Ink Ice Cream may sound like an unusual flavor, but it is a popular option in Japan.
This ice cream gets its distinct black color from the ink of squid or cuttlefish—which might seem unappetizing at first—but has a surprisingly sweet and mild taste that pairs well with other flavors like sea salt caramel.
The ingredients used to make Squid Ink Ice Cream include:
- Heavy cream
- Milk
- Sugar
- Egg yolk
- Squid ink!
It’s not for everyone’s taste buds; however adventurous eaters love trying out this unique Japanese treat alongside other weird ice creams such as wasabi or soy sauce-flavored options!
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3. Soy Sauce
One of the bizarre ice cream flavors found in Japan is Soy Sauce.
This unique dessert ingredient showcases how versatile this common Japanese condiment can be used beyond sushi dipping sauce.
To make soy sauce ice cream, vanilla or plain flavored base is mixed with soy sauce instead of regular milk to give it that salty and savory taste profile.
Sugar is added for sweetness, giving a hint of caramel flavor that compliments well with the umami notes from soy sauce.
Some vendors add toppings like raisins soaked in sherry wine for extra flavor depth or roasted sesame seeds sprinkled on top for texture contrast.
It may sound strange at first but trying new things often leads to wonderful discoveries!
See later – 25 Must-Try Japanese Desserts
4. Natto
One of the most unique ice cream flavors in Japan is Natto, a dish made from fermented soybeans.
Making Natto Ice Cream involves blending creamy vanilla ice cream with a mixture of pulverized and sauteed natto beans until it achieves an earthy flavor not unlike Nutella.
The texture might take some getting used to as well- those accustomed to soft serve may find this variation on the theme rather more stringy or chewier than they were anticipating.
Overall though, for those looking for something new in their desserts repertoire without straying too far off course conceptually speaking (it’s still just ice cream), give natto-flavored sweets a shot!
5. Sakura
One of the most unique Japanese ice cream flavors is Sakura, made from the petals of cherry blossom flowers.
The delicate pink color and floral taste can transport you to Japan during springtime.
To make this ice cream, chefs use blooms that are collected before sunrise when they’re still fresh and spritzed with salt water to preserve their shape.
The buds are then blended into a paste for flavoring along with:
- Milk
- Sugar
- Egg yolks
- Heavy cream
After churning it in an ice cream maker until smooth as silk!
Enjoy its natural aroma without any artificial additives or preservatives added; giving you a blissful treat filled with true goodness!
6. Sake
One of the unique and bizarre ice cream flavors from Japan is Sake Ice Cream.
This creamy dessert combines two beloved elements of Japanese cuisine: sake, a rice wine that’s an essential part of many traditional dishes, and sweet ice cream.
To create this unusual flavor combination, makers use real sake as one ingredient in the recipe.
The alcohol content is boiled off during the production process so it has only a mild alcoholic taste but still retains some fragrant notes typically found in nice sushi-grade raw fish or rich teriyaki sauce.
The result? A delicately flavored frozen treat with hints of rice wine that pairs perfectly with other Asian-inspired desserts like mochi or green tea cookies.
7. Shiso
One of the fascinating ice cream flavors in Japan is Shiso Ice Cream. The unique flavor comes from shiso leaves, a popular herb grown and used extensively in Japanese cuisine.
To make this delicious dessert, milk, and heavy whipping cream are mixed with sugar, eggs, and boiled shisho juice to create an aromatic base mixture that is then churned into velvety smoothness.
The taste varies depending on how much of the herb’s scent you infuse while making it.
Some prefer using fresh chopped green leaves for a stronger taste while others use red perilla which gives subtle citrus notes similar to cinnamon or Thai basil.
Shiso ice cream can be enjoyed alone but pairing it as toppings with strawberries or dark chocolate chips adds another layer of goodness!
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8. Sea Urchin
Sea Urchin ice cream is one of the weird Japanese ice cream flavors that you probably never heard of before. This strange flavor gives a sweet and salty taste, making it unique among other dessert treats.
To make this unusual sea urchin-flavored ice cream possible, manufacturers infuse fresh uni (the fishy part inside the spiky shell) into a vanilla or custard base to create its deliciously smooth texture.
The result will surprise your palate with its creamy sweetness followed by an ocean-like aftertaste.
While some might find it bizarre in comparison to traditional cuts on desserts like chocolate or strawberry; It’s worth trying if you want something different from what you’re used to!
9. Ramen
If you think ice cream can only be sweet, then hold on tight for the ride!
Japanese have come up with some of the most unusual ingredients and toppings to make their unique flavors.
One example is Ramen Ice Cream – yes, it’s a real thing!
You might wonder how noodles could ever mix well with crushed iced milk but apparently, they do.
The taste buds are not as wowed by its noodle flavor though – thanks to adding salted kombu seaweed powder flavored syrup that creates an umami-based dessert sensation in which savory meets sweet.
10. Sweet Potato
Sweet Potato Ice cream may seem like a weird flavor for ice cream, but it’s popular in Japan.
Made from sweet potato puree and mixed with milk, heavy cream, sugar, and cinnamon powder to give that warm cozy feeling of the autumn season.
This is considered one of the best falls flavored ice creams in Japanese cuisine. It has a creamy texture combined with a natural roasted taste which hits right on target every time you take scoopfuls off.
It’s topped up usually by adding rice balls called mochi or some drizzled honey syrup over the top while others have also paired it alongside pie crust chunks making everything more toothsome than ever!
11. Matcha With Red Bean
Matcha with red bean ice cream is a popular Japanese dessert that combines the earthy bitterness of matcha green tea powder and the sweetness of red beans.
It is made using high-quality matcha powder, which adds an elegant flavor to the smooth creamy texture of the ice cream.
Red beans are cooked in sugar syrup until they become soft but maintain their shape when added to sweet dishes like this one.
The combination creates a delightful balance between flavors as well as interesting textures—smoothness from single-origin milk used for making it; specks created by grinding whole Matchamate leaves together (instead of just breaking off pieces).
Enjoyed both alone or try topping your cone/cup with rice flour cake Mochi cubes!
In Conclusion
The world of Japanese ice cream flavors and toppings is indeed a strange but wonderful place.
While some may find them off-putting or even shocking at first glance, it’s worth giving them a try for those who are adventurous eaters looking for new flavor combinations.
Who knows? You might just discover your next favorite ice cream topping from Japan!
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