10 Japanese Kit Kats I Must Try
(Editor’s note: since I first wrote this article, I’ve since had the opportunity to try out many Japanese Kit Kat flavors for myself. As such, I’m reposting this original entry! You’ll find some thoughts on the Kit Kats I’ve tried, as well as an updated Kit Kat list, at the bottom!)
When I first got the idea do a post on the phenomena of Japanese Kit Kats…I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. What should have been a whimsical hunt across the Internet for a decent list of funky flavored Kit Kats turned into an OCD-like obsession to track down each and every flavor in existence.
The popularity of Kit Kats in Japan has exploded in recent years, with literally dozens upon dozens of flavors popping up in various districts and regions. While unique and oddly flavored candies are already quite the phenomenon, Kit Kat’s popularity was propelled by its translation, from Kit Kat to “kitto katto”, which sounds like “kitto katsu”, meaning “You will surely win!”. As such, Kit Kat often specially packages their product during exam periods, as a way to wish others good luck. Cute, huh? (I wish someone would give me chocolate every time I have to take a test. The best I ever got was a sharpened no.2 pencil)!
Many of these flavors are region-specific and limited edition, and are seemingly churned out one after another. Just compiling a complete list has been quite a chore, and I’m sure I’m not even close. (There are rumored to be almost 100 total flavors!) So instead, I’ve posted the ten I’d most like to try and I’ll leave the rest to your own curiosity. Each link at the bottom goes to a photo. Region specific where regions are noted.
My picks are based on what I would try if I went to Japan to hunt these down. So many of the flavors reflect their cuisine and culture, and I find it fascinating. I would want to try everything you’d never see in the United States:
Azuki:
The popularity of Kit Kats in Japan has exploded in recent years, with literally dozens upon dozens of flavors popping up in various districts and regions. While unique and oddly flavored candies are already quite the phenomenon, Kit Kat’s popularity was propelled by its translation, from Kit Kat to “kitto katto”, which sounds like “kitto katsu”, meaning “You will surely win!”. As such, Kit Kat often specially packages their product during exam periods, as a way to wish others good luck. Cute, huh? (I wish someone would give me chocolate every time I have to take a test. The best I ever got was a sharpened no.2 pencil)!
Many of these flavors are region-specific and limited edition, and are seemingly churned out one after another. Just compiling a complete list has been quite a chore, and I’m sure I’m not even close. (There are rumored to be almost 100 total flavors!) So instead, I’ve posted the ten I’d most like to try and I’ll leave the rest to your own curiosity. Each link at the bottom goes to a photo. Region specific where regions are noted.
My picks are based on what I would try if I went to Japan to hunt these down. So many of the flavors reflect their cuisine and culture, and I find it fascinating. I would want to try everything you’d never see in the United States:
Azuki:
Red beans (azuki) are often used in Japanese desserts and they are a popular candy and ice cream flavor. Personally, I’ve never had them before, unless you count the occasional stray one in my mochi. A mild introduction with a familiar chocolate bar might be a good start.
:
Green tea (matcha) is a staple of Japanese beverages, and also a popular Kit Kat flavor. I prefer mine with milk, though, so I’m going with Kit Kat’s green-tea-and-milk striped version.
(Soybean powder):
I found a lot of soybean powder (kinako) variations of Kit Kat, so I was curious and looked it up. Apparently its used for flavoring and as a topping in Japanese food. That’s a must-try for me, then.
(mashed edamame beans):
Zunda is an edamame paste popular in Japan. It kinda looks like fresh maggots rolled in food coloring, but eh, its not the zunda I want, its the zunda flavored Kit Kats! ‘I like edamame…so it can’t be too bad, right? (Famous last words.)
:
These come from the Hokkaido region and are among the wackiest I have come across in my search. They remind me of the popcorn Jelly Belly beans—sound gross but too tempting to not try.
:
Another Hokkaido region fave. Same reason as above…plus, I like the idea of grilled corn. The grilly marks just make it seem tastier. And combined with some of the other Kit Kats, you could almost get a real dinner theme goin’ on. Do they have a dinner mint Kit Kat?
:
The candied sweet potato has been hailed as a college student snack fave for its cheap price and high caloric/carbohydrate content. Sweet potatos are also credited for rural Japanese women’s longevity.
I don’t know why they put salt on watermelon. And truth be told, no one really needs the extra sodium…but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t try it!
:
A tasty Japanese citrus fruit. I’ve never had one before, so I’d love to try it fresh, too.
And of course, no Japanese Kit Kat list would be complete without…
:
Ah, cherry blossoms. I’ve had a few cakes and confections that were rose-based, and they were delicious. I can imagine cherry blossons are delicious as well. So long as they aren’t collecting the sakura petals from the smog infested streets of Tokyo, I’m in!
Honorable mentions: Soy sauce, jasmine tea, brandy and orange, blueberry cheesecake, mango (Okinawa exclusive! I was born in Okinawa), spice (the red pepper/chocolate combo is delicious), golden peach, salt and caramel. Here’s a full list of the flavors I came across on the wide web:
(and ), , , (also a Shinshu Ringo one, featuring regional apples as well as an apple vinegar variety), , , azuki (red bean), espresso, ginger ale, miso soup, , yuzu, , (aka sakura), , , , , , (strawberry/cranberry), (strawberry/cranberry/blueberry), milk and coffee, wasabi, Cafe Latte, Camembert cheese, purple sweet potato, Calpis, sports drink, (Okinawa), , , (and and ) cheesecake, (featuring milk from the region), , , , , , , , , , , , , wine, , , (featuring strawberries grown in Tochigi), Tsubu Ichigo strawberry, Sparkling strawberry, whole wheat, Melt In Your Mouth (fudge), custard pudding, rose, lemon vinegar, soda (ramume), soda (umeshu) mango pudding white chocolate, vegetable juice (apple-carrot), sour orange, kinako ohagi, , , , also called red pepper (Nagano), , , Akaho no Shio (there ), (uses cookies instead of wafers), salt vanilla, marukajiri (ehou maki sushi), melon, , gianduja , , , (also called flan or caramel pudding), , , (syrup and soybean flour), praline, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , white chocolate (regular and ), green tea soybean flour and plum, , (a Chinese dessert), , (an early version of the fruit parfait?), , zunda , Yamagata), , Hokkaido blueberry and cheese, yakimorokoshi (Hokkaido), Exotic Sakura Assort (has caramel/white chocolate/orange/mango combination contained therein) jyagaimo (Hokkaido), , , (also called brown sugar by some),uji kintoki miruku, , , strawberry milk, chocolate banana, blood orange, yubri melon.
Whew!
I gratefully acknowledge InventorSpot, CandyBlog, ZOMGCandy, HaikuGirl, JunkFoodBlog, CandyAddict, KateOLeary, NeedCoffee, the , , , , , JenKen’sKitKatBlog, KitKatAddict, and for help with compiling this post.
Whew!
I gratefully acknowledge InventorSpot, CandyBlog, ZOMGCandy, HaikuGirl, JunkFoodBlog, CandyAddict, KateOLeary, NeedCoffee, the , , , , , JenKen’sKitKatBlog, KitKatAddict, and for help with compiling this post.
Since writing this post, I’ve started my own collection of Japanese Kit Kats, ordering regularly from Jlist and scouring the local Uwajimaya’s for new flavors. The only one I have not enjoyed was the soybean powder variety. All the others have been fantastic, including caramel pudding chocolate (A+), Royal Milk Tea (A++), apple carrot (aka vegetable) juice (B+), banana (B), fruit smoothie (B), raspberry passion fruit dark chocolate (A on quality, C personal preference), green tea with milk (A), blueberry chocolate (B), sparkling strawberry, kinako/soybean powder (F for flavor), coffee with milk (A-), roasted sweet potato (A), maple (A++), raspberry chocolate (B), green tea (B), and a variety of chocolate purities and strengths, all of which I enjoyed.
I also have a cheese variety that I am so far too chicken to try, sitting stashed in my Kit Kat drawer. This has also led to a new hobby: buying Japanese Oreo bars, unique Pocky, and gourmet Doritos flavors. That insanity, though, I’ll have to cover another day!