Japan is full of beautifully crafted desserts of natural green, subtle pink and pure white. You’d be hard pressed to find the lime greens and neon blues of many Western snacks, especially those found in the United States. That’s why when Ikea Japan announced their lineup of food to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their Shinmisato branch, many Japanese net users were surprised by their choice of colors. Some are even saying that the unnatural colors are enough to make you lose your appetite.
The blue and yellow colors were chosen to represent the colors of the flag of Ikea’s home country, Sweden. The soft serve ice cream is even unabashedly called “Sweden Soft Cream.”
▼ If you put it that way, they got the colors spot-on.
But some people in Japan cannot get past the abnormal hue. “It’s definitely a beautiful color, but it’ll take a lot of courage to eat,” remarks one commenter. With colors like that, you would think the dessert would be blueberry and banana, but it’s actually “refreshing yogurt and apple mango flavor.” According to those who have tried this bizarre (by Japan’s standards) ice cream, blue is yogurt flavored and yellow is apple mango.
Japanese netizens have been sharing images of their new strange food from the furniture superstore chain. Take a look at some of their snapshots uploaded to Japanese blog sites:
Are you as brave as these Japanese bloggers? You have until the end of the month to try Ikea’s Sweden Soft Cream, incorporating what Japanese food site, Entabe, deems “an unimaginable food color scheme for Japan.”
Source: Entabe
Images: Wikipedia, LaughAndPeace, Ratoru-kun, NyaNyaDiary
Ikea Japan stopped selling soft serve ice cream?! We try what they’re now selling instead
Tokyo’s hidden mall serves up Japan’s best regional ice creams
Japan’s crab ice cream is here to test how much you really love seafood and sweets
Senbero US$10 Japanese home drinking…with stuff from Ikea?【Japan’s Best Home Senbero】
Lucky Japanese new year ice cream! Baskin-Robbins’ flavor inspired by traditional osechi cuisine
And now, we eat a bear paw we bought in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture【Taste test】
English reactions to A Day in the Life of a Japanese Salaryman video sadden Japanese netizens
Hello Kitty says hello to Godzilla in new kaiju/Sanrio crossover collaboration
Fire breaks out in Kyoto hotel, mobile battery to blame
Japanese vending machine sells just one thing at this station
Official English version of anime Your Name’s theme song sounds cool as Japanese original【Video】
Ghost in the Sheel goes traditional with Japanese porcelain Tachikoma robots, only 50 to be made
Japan’s Naruto theme park now offering real-world version of Minato’s kunai ninja weapon
Japanese beauty trends of the 20th & 21st centuries, and predicting future fashions
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
Japan has a new bar just for people thinking about quitting their jobs, and the drinks are free
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Japan cherry blossom forecast update moves up sakura dates for many parts of the country
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Studio Ghibli turns My Neighbour Totoro characters into bag charms for everyday adventures
If you haven’t tried an antenna shop in Japan, you’re missing out
Studio Ghibli releases Spirited Away bags in Japan, based on a mysterious festival
Morning-after pill finally available in Japan without a prescription, must be taken at pharmacy
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Japan’s new Ice Cream Fondue Pizza promises the great taste of ice cream and mushrooms together!
10 awesome ice cream and popsicle brands to try when you’re in Japan
Japan’s new mayonnaise ice cream doesn’t taste like you’d expect【Taste test】
Häagen-Dazs Japan’s 35th anniversary Green Deep Tea ice cream is no ordinary matcha dessert
Mr. Sato lives it up like a Harajuku schoolgirl, eats Japan’s longest soft serve ice cream cone
Ramen, fish, and turtle all on the menu at Japan’s most crazily comprehensive ice cream shop
Japan’s combination laundromats/ice cream parlors are the combo we never knew we needed, until now
Japan’s Slime ice cream will Heal you since it’s a Dragon Quest tie-up with Baskin-Robbins Japan
Squid-themed ice cream comes to Baskin-Robbins Japan, but it’s OK because it’s a Nintendo tie-in
Leave a Reply