What Can You Buy in Japan for $5?
Matcha desserts have become popular around the world, but in Japan, they are part of everyday life—especially during seasonal releases at convenience stores. Recently, I picked up a matcha dessert for under $5 at a local convenience store, and it’s a great example of how easy and affordable it is to try matcha here. If you’re curious about what matcha tastes like or want to see what you can actually buy in Japan, this is a simple place to start.
What I Bought
| Top | Bottom Left | Bottom Right | |
| Name | お抹茶クッキーサンド（Matcha cookies with cream filling） | 抹茶クリーム大福（The mochi is filled with cream and matcha paste） | 抹茶どら焼き（A pancake sandwich filled with matcha paste） |
| Price | 190Yen（1.20USD） | 178Yen（1.12USD） | 210Yen（1.32USD） |
Once again, I bought it at FamilyMart, which has the green and blue logo.
What Matcha Tastes Like (for beginners)
Unlike regular green tea, matcha is ground into a fine powder, so you consume the entire tea leaf. This creates a perfect balance of bitterness and umami, resulting in a deeper, more complex flavor. While matcha lattes often contain sugar, authentic matcha is unsweetened and is characterized by its strong flavor and bitterness.
The Dessert Itself
お抹茶クッキーサンド（Matcha cookies with cream filling）
The cookies aren’t too sweet, and I could really taste the distinct bitterness of matcha in both the cookies and the cream. If you want to savor the flavor of matcha, I highly recommend this.
抹茶どら焼き（A pancake sandwich filled with matcha paste）
It’s sweeter than I expected. It’s quite green overall, but not very bitter; the cake and matcha filling give off a subtle matcha aroma, and I thought the flavor was similar to a standard dorayaki. If you’re trying it for the first time, this might be a good choice for beginners.
抹茶クリーム大福（The mochi is filled with cream and matcha paste）
The cream softens the tea’s bitterness, creating a perfect balance between sweetness and bitterness. The tea’s refreshing aroma lingers on the palate. Be sure to savor the texture of the mochi on the outside as well.
Total Costs
Here’s the “receipt photo” you’re familiar with from this blog. This time, three desserts came to 586 yen（3.69USD）. However, I paid with the points I’d accumulated, so the actual amount I paid was 0 yen.
