Kit Kat - Japanese style
The Kit Kat bar is considered quite the popular snack in Japan (something I am VERY keen to investigate in, oh…19 days!). Originally created by Rowntree back in 1935, it has grown chunkier, bigger and a heck of a lot more interesting with a STAGGERING array of flavour and regional variations. And trends such as these create your fair share of addicts, which just makes me want to try the various types all the more.
My recent jaunt to Tsukiji (the one in Prahran and not in Japan), had me doing a happy dance when I saw these Japanese Kit Kats for sale ($2.50). Above, the Kit Kat Bitter 61% Cacao was as you would imagine - dark bittersweet chocolate covering the usual three layer cream filled wafer, making for a very adult indulgence.
My interested was piqued more so by the matcha (green tea). When you open the box you will find two individually sealed packs, with a double finger in each.
Bordering on white chocolate, there is the unmistakable yet extremely pleasant flavour of green tea, and it balances the bitterness and sweetness well. The chocolate coating was also rather attractive being variegated in two shades of green. Sugoi!
Written by mellie on
September 11th, 2007 | Tags: chocolate, Kit Kat | Category: Uncategorized
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September 11th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
They both sound wonderful. I may have to pick up a couple myself and soon! You must be getting very excited about your trip. Where in Japan are you going?
September 12th, 2007 at 2:30 am
Oohh, love dark chocolate. And the green tea one sounds interesting. I’m going to have to find one of each and give them both a try.
September 12th, 2007 at 3:18 am
Mmmmm Ive had a craving for Kit Kats for the last couple of weeks, but I havent gotten around to getting one… maybe I’ll just trek over to Tsukiji to try out those flavours…
September 13th, 2007 at 1:43 am
Kit Kat marketing in Japan has been very clever which has made it huge and in some cases now quite expensive. In Japanese the name sounds like “Kitto katsu” which means “I hope you win” and is customary for students to say to each other before an exam.
Nestle decided to hook in on that and began the campaign by supplying hotels who hosted students coming to the cities for exams with Kit Kats presented as a lucky charm. It then extended into PR/media releases about mothers giving Kit Kats to their kids for luck and extended into blogs. So now, along with Tonkatsu, it has become the thing to eat before an event where you need luck.
Flavours are short term and high rotation with new flavours coming out at exam time and in Spring. Other Japanese flavours include:
Bitter chocolate and raspberries
White chocolate with blueberries
sweet chocolate with orange, lemon, passionfruit & a hint of ginger
White chocolate with mango, caramel and orange
Brandy and orange
Pineapple; peach; cherry;
Strawberry with pink chocolate
Red bean with Pink chocolate
September 13th, 2007 at 9:17 am
WOW!
Why do we get stuck with “chunky” Kit Kat’s?? I’ll take the 61% over what we are offered here……
September 13th, 2007 at 9:24 am
That is so posh. Im going to Tsukiji tommorow- first thing in the morning! X
September 13th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Hi there truffle - yes, we are both VERY excited about our upcoming trip (only 17 days to go!) We have four weeks in Japan, though we are pretty much hanging around the Kansai area - so from Tokyo down to Hiroshima and all the spots in between (Osaka, Kyoto, Miyajima, Takayama, Koya, Kobe etc.) Have you been?
Hey anna - well, you wouldn’t believe it but I saw the cacao one in the Urban Grocer, which is an Asian supermarket on the lower level of Melbourne Central, near the train station entrance. So you can get your fix there.
Hi anthony - see comment above to Anna re: CBD spotting for cacao kit kat. But the trip to Tsukiji is worth it - just for the sashimi!
G’day stickyfingers - wow, what a wonderfully insightful comment. Thank you so much for providing a bit of background to the kit kat frenzy. But you have soooo made me drool with all those flavours. Mmm…bitter choc with raspberries
Hey mike and the gourmand - yeah, it sucks that the Aussie contribtion to the kit kat world is the big finger
September 15th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Thanks Mellie. Guess what Mr Stickyfingers brought home from Coles? A Strawberry Chocolate Kit Kat, as part of a breast cancer awareness promotional campaign. He’s teasing me with it, so I have yet to try it
September 16th, 2007 at 1:01 am
While you’re trying Asian sweets, I suggest the Nougat Bar at the Korean City Mart across from the market. Ice cream covered in deliciously creamy nougat. It’s good…very good.
September 16th, 2007 at 9:08 am
How much is the dark chocolate kit kat =)
September 16th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Oh my GOODNESS the Japanese Kit Kat looked SO good! Especially the green tea one, really had me drooling!
…the next time my dad goes to Japan, I’m making him buy Kit Kat for me by the cartload.
Also, the flavours stickyfingers are listing are making me drool even more
September 17th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Hi again stickyfingers - did you manage to wrest what was rightfully yours from Mr.Stickyfingers?!? I hope so, as a woman should never be deprived of her chocolate, ESPECIALLY when kit kats are involved
Hey lunch club - thanks for the tip!
Hark…for who made the stars - it’s $2.50 from Tsukiji, although I think I saw it for under $2.00 at the Urban Grocer (lower level Melbourne Central)
Hi mouse - I certainly plan on filling a cartload myself when I jet off to Japan in…er…13 days
September 19th, 2007 at 6:39 am
OK I finally got to sample the local strawberry Kit Kat. The chocolate was milk but flavoured with strawberry, covering a pink strawberry wafer. Boy was it sweeeeeeeet! I washed it down with an espresso - perfect.
You must be tingling with excitement about your trip now.
September 24th, 2007 at 9:37 am
so want to try the Green tea Kit Kat. have a great time in Japan
Regards
September 24th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Hey stickyfingers - why is it that chocolate and espresso are such wonderful partners? I was at Press Club for dinner the other day, and had the most DIVINE little scoop of espresso and coffee ice-cream. It was damn near orgasmic
And yes, we are both VERY excited. 7 sleeps 
Hi john - the green one was my favourite. I have seen the cacao version at a few asian grocers of late, but I’ve only seen the green one at Tsukiji. Thanks for your well wishes too!
September 25th, 2007 at 4:48 am
The Green tea one is actualy a “Matcha Swirl KitKat”. Probably one of my favourite choclate bars of all time!
September 25th, 2007 at 10:08 am
I second that Paul. It certainly had me drooling and wanting more
December 11th, 2007 at 3:21 am
I’m stumbling onto this blog pretty late, but can’t help commenting.
Green Tea kitkat: eeeewww. Been there, tried that. Problem is it’s not the nice fresh green tea flavour, it’s more like the powdered stuff they use in Japan that sinks like sludge to the bottom of those green tea “prima packs” and lies in wait for your straw to sink a little too low… *gulp*
Chestnut Kitkat. Now there is a flavour sensation. I could eat those all day. Although I would probably pile on the pounds, and get scruvy.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Hi there new_kaf - welcome to tummy rumbles!
I absolutely loved the matcha flavour, more so that it is the whipped powdered variety. But then I’m a big fan of drinking it too
And I second your chestnut sentiment. It seriously rocks!