Matcha and other variations of green tea take pride of place as an important part of Japanese culture. Appreciated for its taste and health benefits, it takes centre stage in traditional tea ceremonies.

But if you don’t have time to attend such a lengthy occasion, you can sample high quality green tea in plenty of other more casual settings. In cafes all over Tokyo it’s served in tea form and as various desserts.

These are some of the best matcha and green tea desserts that can be found in the Tokyo area. The tastiest, the prettiest and the most intense, get ready for all your green tea dreams to come true.

4 of the Best Matcha and Green Tea Desserts in Tokyo

1. Tea and Spoon Nanaya, Aoyama

This gelato shop claims to have the most intense matcha ice cream in the world and it certainly packs a punch. Don’t worry if you’re not a matcha heavy weight, the gelato is ordered from 1-7, with 7 being the most extreme green tea taste and 1 for those who prefer it mild. You can also get two different flavours in one cup and offset the bitterness of the green stuff with a sweet flavour like milk or strawberry.

2. Chachanoma, Harajuku

Quality and presentation are paramount at this stylish café off Harajuku’s cat street. Offering a wide range of green teas, Chachanoma's menu is preorganised into sets so that the type of tea served matches the food perfectly. Both sweet and savoury treats are on offer. The green tea desserts are divine and the teas are brewed meticulously in full view of the customers. On the way out you can also pick up some of the tea leaves or other paraphernalia for your own home.

3. Morinoen Tea Shop and Sweets Salon, Ningyocho

This tea shop specialises in a specific type of green tea called hojicha. The tea leaves are roasted giving them a rich reddish brown color and a toasty, slightly caramel-like flavor when infused. Plenty of hojicha is on offer as tea or even lattes, and it also takes the form of various hojicha desserts such as the very Instagrammable parfait. On the first floor, you too can purchase Morinoen's fine teas and enjoy them whenever you like.

4. Wa Cafe Katanashi, Kawasaki

This cute cafe doesn’t particularly specialise in green tea, but that didn’t stop them smashing it out of the park with the prettiest matcha cheesecake you’ve ever seen. They also serve a simple hot or cold matcha among other non-green teas. Kawasaki isn’t exactly central Tokyo (it's in the neighbouring prefecture, not far from Yokohama), but if you’re on the hunt for the most attractive matcha dessert, it could be worth the trip.