To satisfy a green tea ice cream craving, I usually head to the nearest sushi bar. So it was a pleasant surprise to see that my neighborhood Vons carries its own brand of green tea ice cream. How convenient!

Safeway's Premium Green Tea Ice Cream did not entirely satisfy my need for green tea ice cream. To be fair, it was green tea with vanilla. It was pleasant enough, sweet and creamy but the green tea flavor was disappointing. It was just, well, vanilla.

Green tea ice cream served in sushi places or sold in Japanese stores is usually made with matcha green tea. The authentic version has a clean, almost veggie-like flavor and a gentle sweetness that lingers long after your last bite. The Safeway brand has a mildness to it but lacks the unique taste sensation that makes green tea ice cream such an addictive pleasure.

A way to make excellent use of this ice cream is to turn it into a smoothie with the addition of matcha green tea powder (any oriental store should have it). Add two ounces of powder, a giant scoop of the ice cream, a glass of crushed ice and a bit of milk and blend until smooth.