PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ice cream of peppermint flavor, a flavoring agent used for the ice cream, and a method for producing the flavoring agent.SOLUTION: A method for preparing green peppermint powder from leaves of mentha piperita includes drying, crushing, sterilizing and milling fresh leaves. The method includes (a) carrying out superheated steam treatment prior to drying, (b) carrying out drying at maximum 100°C using a dryer that applies a combination of microwave heating and far-infrared heating under ultra-low pressure conditions (maximum 0.4 kPa), and (c) carrying sterilization using superheated steam of 165-185°C. The obtained powder adds sufficient green to the ice cream without needing to further add a green coloring agent.
