Looks Like a Moss Ball, Tastes Like Ice Cream

Move over gourmet kakigori, there’s a hip new dessert in town.

Well, it’s not actually in Tokyo just yet, but knowing Japan’s tendency to jump on a food trend, we imagine it will make its way down from Aomori Prefecture in no time. Created by the chefs at Oirase Keiryu Hotel, located in the picturesque city of Towada, the Kokedama Ice dessert was inspired by Japan’s moss balls – those sweet little hanging plants made up of a ball of soil covered in moss, with flowers or a miniature tree growing out of it. (On a sidenote, you can read how to make your own kokedama here.)

The dessert looks spectacularly like a real moss ball, but in fact it is made up of matcha ice cream covered in spinach powder, topped with a sprig of mint, and served with apple puree. It features on the hotel’s menu for ¥1,300 from tomorrow (June 1) and will be available until August 31.

Need more motivation to travel all the way to Aomori? The hotel itself makes for a special getaway as it’s positioned just next to the Oirase Keiryu stream, which is part of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. So you’ll not only get to say you were one of the first to try Kokedama Ice, but you’ll enjoy a summer break surrounded by mountains, forests, and hot springs.

Also, if you’ve decided to enter the Tohoku365 Project, in which you can win ¥1 million to travel around Tohoku, this is one of the spots that should be on your list of things to do should you be the lucky winner.