A traditional Japanese Matcha Shaved Ice dessert, Ujikintoki is a summer must-try recipe! With a simple shaved ice machine, you and your family can enjoy this refreshing treat all summer long. Have fun with toppings such as red bean paste, shiratama dango, sweetened condensed milk, and green tea ice cream.

There was an unusual heatwave in the San Francisco bay area last week with the temperature soaring above 90ºF almost every day. The hot weather came at a perfect time as I could make one of the summer desserts I love eating in Japan, and that is Matcha Shaved Ice or what we call Ujikintoki (宇治金時).

What’s Ujikintoki?
Ujikintoki is a Japanese shaved ice dessert, made with shaved ice on the bottom, drizzled with matcha syrup, and topped with red bean paste. Other common toppings include shiratama dango (mochi), sweetened condensed milk, and green tea ice cream. On a hot and humid summer day, eating shaved ice brings immediate refreshment and cools you down.
When I got back from Japan, I purchased this shave ice machine after doing a bit of research and reading reviews. This shave ice machine won’t make the nice fluffy snowy shaved ice, but it is inexpensive (compared to commercial models over $200) and easy to operate. You simply insert the ice block, place the top of the machine on and press it down to start shaving ice. The machine only comes with 2 ice molds so I used plastic cups about the same diameter to freeze additional ice blocks. Each ice block only makes 1 bowl of shaved ice.
Typical shaved ice you see is made with fruity flavors like strawberry, melon, lemon, blue-Hawaii, and they can be purchased at summer festivals and food stalls in Japan. However, Ujikintoki is usually served only in restaurants or sweet shops during the summer, and it’s a rather special treat because one Ujikintoki costs about 800-1000 yen (USD$8-10) in restaurants.
For us, since we can’t find any restaurants or places to purchase Ujikintoki, making them at home was the only option. And it was a smart option as our family loves it and we’ve been enjoying it almost every day at home.

It’s a quick dessert that literally takes just a few minutes to put together if you have all the ingredients. I figured out how to make matcha Syrup using the same proportions as making simple syrup, but adding matcha powder to it. I really like this matcha syrup recipe and how flavorful it is so I will be making this over and over again.
I also have a recipe for the rest of the toppings used in this dessert:
- Red Bean Paste (Anko)
- Shiratama Dango (with video)
- Matcha Ice Cream (with video)

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Ujikintoki (Matcha Shaved Ice)
Video
Ingredients
- ice (for shaved ice)
- ⅓ cup sweet red bean paste (anko) (for my homemade recipe, click here)
Matcha Syrup:
- ¼ cup sugar (4 Tbsp)
- ½ Tbsp matcha green tea powder
- 2 Tbsp hot water
Optional Toppings
- Homemade Shiratama Dango (Mochi Balls)
- green tea ice cream
- 2 Tbsp sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- To make syrup, combine sugar and matcha green powder in a small bowl and whisk together. Then add the hot water and whisk until sugar is completely melted. Let it cool in the freezer (don’t forget to take it out) or refrigerator (if you still have time before serving).
- I use an electric shaved ice machine. Put the ice cube and run the machine for a while to let it form a nice peak on its own. Then toward the end you rotate the bowl to correct any lopsidedness.
- Pour 2 Tbsp of green tea syrup for each bowl. Add dollop of red bean paste. Place the shiratama dango. Put a scoop of ice cream on top to make the shaved ice creamier. Pour 1 Tbsp of sweetened condense milk.
[…] Dango (白玉団子) is often served with Zenzai (Oshiruko), Kakigori (shaved ice), and Anmitsu. They are soft and small, and the flatter shape is perfect as a topping for Japanese […]
[…] Ujikintoki (Green Tea Shaved Ice) […]
[…] It’s usually used for filling for mochi, dango, and dorayaki, and topping for Anmitsu and Green Tea Shaved Ice, as well as for dessert soup called Zenzai […]
Natsukashii!!! Makes me want to go to Japan right now for one. Guess I can now try to make one myself!
Hi June! This is my favorite flavor of shaved ice. Hope you enjoy this recipe! 🙂
[…] Green Tea Shaved Ice […]
How can I make a big batch of green tea syrup can you help me give me a recipebecause at church and events I do shave ice I have a professional shave ice machine for a parties and events and I would love to use your green tea syrup recipe at events
Hi Veronica! I’m not sure how many you need, but you can multiply the syrup recipe:
The recipe is:
4 Tbsp sugar (4 Tbsp = 1/4 cup or 50 g)
½ Tbsp matcha green tea powder
2 Tbsp hot water
To make it easier to calculate:
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup matcha green tea powder
1 cup hot water
[…] The flavour options are seemingly endless. Mango, strawberry, melon, cherry, lime, or even Ujikintoki (green tea shaved ice). […]
[…] Ujikintoki (Green Tea Shaved Ice) […]
Looks delicious 🙂
Thank you, Mika! 🙂
Ha, so funny. I just bought this same machine. I am also in the SF Bay. It’s not quite the same, but you might consider some of the Korean shaved ice places on El Camino Real. I’m a big fan of the green tea snow ice at Cafe Milan in Santa Clara, near the Lawrence and El Camino Intersection. Thanks for writing, I’ll have to give this a try!
Hi Jessica! You have the same machine! We’ve been using it almost everyday and so far so good! We bought plastic cups (taller than the cups that came with), and use them to make more ice (and taller ice). It works! When I am in South Bay (not often, but when I am lucky), I stop by snowy place too. A bit different from Japanese style but I am happy if I can eat green tea one. Now I enjoy it at home. I’ll look into Cafe Milan next time. Thank you for letting me know! 🙂
I want to eat it right now! We are having an another 100 degree weather here today, and I can eat it for my lunch. Yum:)
Thank you Ayako! I’m enjoying it almost everyday. 😀
Ohhh that sounds good, add some kuromitsu, then I’m sold!
Hi Asami! Yes I did try that too. My friend told me to add Kinako to kuromitsu version, so I’ll try that next time. 😀
Oh, that looks so refreshing and the matcha syrup is so pretty!
Maybe I’ll visit a local shaved ice shop and just get plain shaved ice and rush home to make this! 😉
Hi Donna! I assume you can get Ujikintoki in Hawaii? I’ve never been, but that famous Matsumoto Shaved Ice should have this traditional flavor. 🙂