My secret little obsession with Japanese Kit Kats was previously confessed on this blog. So you can only imagine how absolutely thrilled I was to be able to ferret out these wafery-chocolatey fingers of goodness on their home turf.
Honestly, I think I damn near drove EG spare with my incessant “Kit Kat checks” at every 7 Eleven, Lawson, am pm, Circle K and Family Mart konbini (convenience store) we walked past. But he was ever so patient of my search, and by the end of it was as much attuned to spotting a Kit Kat at 50 paces as I was.
The first Kit Kat find happened in Tokyo on Day One…now that’s dedication, huh? This was a particular treat as I’d read about the Japanese appreciation of seasonality – and my first experience turned out to be the perfect example of that. Chestnuts typify the Autumn in Japan – you will find chestnut roasters in many places, selling singed nuts the size of golf balls. And how fantastic that Kit Kat should make a chestnut nougatine filled version.Top marks and one of my favourites.
The Vanilla Beans Kit Kat was not unlike a regular white version found back home, but as you can see in the image, little flecks of vanilla bean had been suspended in the white chocolate coating, which actually provided the mildest hint of vanilla.
This red bean/green tea (matcha) version was, I guess, meant to represent a traditional tea ceremony where whipped matcha is served alongsidewagachi (a Japanese confection, sometimes made of adzuki or red bean paste). The exterior was slightly bitter and chocolate green tea flavoured, whilst the interior wafers were sandwiched by a very sweet red bean fudgy paste. Once again, top marks for the idea and the taste.
The Red Bean (Adzuki) version for me was just a lil’ high on the sweetness scale for this refined palate (which has got to say something!). Coming as a multi pack of mini Kit Kats, I really could only eat one.It was just too pink, too sweet and too bleh.
Now back to regular flavoured Kit Kats for a moment – this is an 8 pack of Petit’s. They are probably only 3 or 4cm long, and each is individually wrapped. I think this as a dieters treat food – you could allow yourself one Petit a day, until you got Petit yourself 
Next up, Orange and Chocolate. The distinct tang of citrus/dark chocolate reminded me of a Terry’s somewhat – so yeah, this was good. I’m not a huge choc-orange fan though, but heck, I wouldn’t say no if someone offered.
And here is some more seasonal fun, this time in the form of a Pumpkin Pie Kit Kat in celebration of Halloween. Yes, you read right -Halloween. The Japanese have taken to this festivity like Michael Myers did to Jamie Lee Curtis (thanks EG for the analogy), and I have taken to this treat in a similar fashion.It just rocks because it straddles the quirky in theory, and tastes damn good in a spicy/nutmeg way. Love it.
Now I also loved the original Matcha (green tea) flavour, which is different to the one I’d had previously, which I actually found out was Green Tea Latte. This Matcha version bordered on the bitter, whilst retaining a mild sweetness.It was just like a whipped cup of powdered green tea, but only made of chocolate and crunchy.I think this is the Queen of Japanese Kit Kats. Ooh…I want one now!
Now this one was all but an illusion, spied in one of those Skill Tester lucky dip machines in Hiroshima. I’m kind of glad that I couldn’t get to it, as I think it may have been a little gross. Phew.
I found this one near Mt.Fuji, and was absolutely delighted that it was made with Hokkaido Milk, which is apparently famed for it’s Jersey Cows.To be honest, I couldn’t tell much of a difference between this and the regular white Kit Kat, although word around town is that it is meant to be creamier.
Rockmelon/cantaloupe flavour – urgh, I won’t even begin to describe the sheer travesty of this version.
Now this seasonal Spring variety was actually found in Singapore. Perhaps the Japanese sold their excess when they didn’t sell in the Spring? Either way, it was actually lovely and delicate, with a nice cherry hint. Not at all sickly sweet as I would have expected it to be.
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Back to Japan again and the Kit Kat Little. Personally, I think it’s just another way of value adding to the production line by utilising all those broken up Kit Kats.And why not? It tastes like a Kit Kat, just a little one.
Now for some cross platform utilisation of this magnificent snack – the Kit Kat ice cream is absolutely ingenious. Basically it is vanilla ice cream in a biscuit cone (kind of like a drumstick) with an original Kit Kat finger wedged right down the centre. So cool…literally.
Now to the finale.
MMM…AHHH…
**The crowd goes wild**
BLEH…URGH…
**The crowd goes oooooh!**
…thanks for that one, very excitement!
Good god that cant be for real can it? How can they have so many flavours???!
Do they sell any of these in melbourne? I seem to recall you saying they did somewhere??
Friend, I salute you – such dedication to the cause. Rockmelon KitKat?! – now that is just wrong and well, frankly….ewww. I wish they would do an alcoholic one – but that’s just me. I so want one now
woo! i’m a post behind but welcome back mellie & EG! i have to concur with you re: melon flavoured kitkat. ick! i struggle with eating melons at the best of times but to get them in kit kat form is uncalled for! the pumpkin pie one though sounds alright to me!
at my workplace m&ms are the confectionary of choice and we’ve taken our obsession to crazy heights, looking for different flavours & varietie. Can’t say though that we have the level of choice you get with kitkats!!!!
How cool are they. No wonder your obsessed with them. Thanks for sharing, my family were fascinated.
Ooh, so many… think I’m getting a toothache just reading about ‘em!
Seriously, well done finding so many. I agree – any type of melon-flavoured kit kat wouldn’t rate highly on my try-o-meter.
anonymous mentioned alcoholic kit kats… imagine a baileys one, tia maria, frangelico…. mmmmmm
Wow haha just wow. I’m surprised that one can eat so many Kit-kats without getting sick of them. Can’t blame you thought, it’d be near impossible getting any of those flavours here!
Hey stickyfingers – yes, VERY excitement indeed
You should have seen how many happy dances I did!
Hi Ran – well to put it in perspective, I think there are around 80 different varieties!! But I was there out of season (Autumn). Apparently they release all their cool special editions in the Spring. I’ve only seen a few versions in Melbourne – the noir version (dark choc) and the green tea latte. But I must admit to doing Kit Kat checks in the asian grocers here. It’s a sickness…
Hey anon #1 – I like the way you think! Alcoholic Kit Kats?!? Hmm..I wonder if they have thought of that one yet. I really could see a Malibu Kit Kat going down well
Hi serenity later – OMG – what have I missed? Do M&M’s come in different varieties?!? What the?!? Ooooh…I must do some investigation
And yes, I too struggle with rockmelon. It is not my favourite flavour at all.
Hey squishy – glad I provided some wholesome family entertainment
Hiya anna – yes…a Frangelico one would absolutely rock! And your comment reminds me – I must visit the dentist!
Hey su – I will never get sick of Kit Kats, especially when there is such variety! To be perfectly honest, I just like trying them once. Then I’m done with them
The rockmelon kit kat was one of the first confectionery items I tried when I went to Japan and I loved it! There seems to be a honeydew/rockmelon obsession in Japan where almost anything sweet (lollies, chocolate, drinks, ice creams) comes in melon flavour. I guess you have to be a melon eater in the first place to be into it!
That’s a lot of kitkats! I’d love to try the green tea with red bean ones!
mmm speaking of mnms’s there is a peanut butter version in the US which is so so good that we dont get in Oz. When my friend got me a pack we ate the whole thing at once and then wanted more.
melons are great. I love melons
Re: ran’s comment about m&m’s?
Oh yes we do!!!! You just have to know where to look!
At work we’ve gotten our hands on peanut butter, almond, dark chocolate and wait for it….dark chocolate peanut m&m’s!! I know of at least three places in and around the anu where you can get the american import versions of m&ms: peanut butter, almond, dark chocolate peanut m&ms. I’d wager a bet that you’d probably find them at that lolly shop on lygon st. As for other types, there is a local mint variety that has come out just for christmas, so keep an eye out for that one at the supermarkets! Oh and dark chocolate ones are being made here as well now (navy blue pack).
….yeah, i know waaaaay too much about m&m’s than is proper. I need help
Holy crap – thats aaaamaaazing!! – Leila
Mmmmmmmm… tasty!
and
Ewwww.. that’s whack!
I cant believe how many varieties they have there!!! I mean who thought of Rockmelon as a flavour for Kit Kats!?
Well I’ve tortured all my friends by forwarding this post of all the different Kit Kat flavours!
Then I looked on Ebay – there are flavours you haven’t mentioned including Blood Orange, Apple and Hokkaido Berry Wine!!
This could get ugly
Oh no, Serenity Later, Mel is up near ANU RIGHT NOW. I’m heading there soon too… what’s the place? I’m ex-Canberran, I’d be interested to know.
Gah! I tried to post this reply twice already so it better work this time around!! Anywayyyyy i hope Mellie gets this info on time otherwise Anna you may have to suss it out when your up here next. So here goes:
(1) the IGA on Marcus Clarke St (City carpark i think?) has an entire shelf devoted to american import choccies such as junior mints, butterfingers, almond joys and of course m&ms. i dare say too that these guys sell the m&ms marginally cheaper than the following two so try this place as your first port of call.
(2) the grocery shop in the anu union opposite the bakery also regularly have boxes of the dark chocolate, peanut butter and almond m&ms. their hours might be a little funny now though because semester is over
(3) the cellar shop at university house on the other side of campus also sell american import m&ms so you should be able to find the dark chocolate, peanut butter, almond and dark chocolate peanut varieties of m&ms.
Good luck on your fact finding mission! At my workplace we’ve managed to transform a sizeable number of people into hardcore m&m fans so it is my absolute pleasure to spread the good word out there about these tasty morsels!
Hi anon #2 – yes, you certainly have to enjoy melons to appreciate the travesty that is rockmelon kit kat
Actually, EG and I ate the most fabulous rockmelon at a ryokan in Kawaguchiko. I think it was from Shinkoku?! Either way, it was absolutely amazing, and almost turned me to the way of the melon! But generally, I find it a pretty icky flavour. EG loves it though.
Hi hungry hamster – yup, that was one of my favourites too
Hey ran – gee…at the mention of the word peanut butter I instantly started drooling!
EG – haha…no comment
serenity later – you are a woman after my own heart!
Hey anon #3 (aka. Leila) – pretty cool, huh? Did you see any when you were in Japan recently?
Hey anthony – and this is only a small sample!! In the Spring when they release all their special editions, there can be close on double/treble the amount! I need to go back!
Hi melissas – yes, ebay is a good spot to find them. Unfortunately (or is that fortunately), you have to buy them by the case/box load! Way too much for my expanding waistline
Hey anna and serenity later – grr…I didn’t get to read this post until I got back!! I was in Canberra yesterday, and seriously only a hop, skip, jump from ANU. Anna, aren’t you going up in a few weeks?!? My dear friend, you now have a mission
Hey hey,
The only funky kitkats I`ve found so far are apple and green tea (dark chocolate on the outside, wafer and apple/green tea cream on the inside). The green tea was yummy!
xox Sarah
Konnichiwa Sarah – well, I hope you know what you have to do now?!? BRING ME BACK SOME!
Ooh…I didn’t see that apple/green tea one – sounds…errr…interesting!
Happy travels Sarah.
My comment is ultra ultra late because my RSS reader didn’t show any new posts from you Mellie.
But that is some kit kat post. I love it. So many varieties. Why don’t they do that here in Oz.
The same goes for ice cream. In HK, Malaysia, Singapore on holidays, I was able to get my hands on some many types of ice cream flavours. Here all we get is ordinary vanilla and chocolate.
Hey thanh – uh huh, I hear ya. I often find myself drawn to the Asian Grocers in town, just for some ice-cream variety. Thankfully we have some good gelaterias around, and can indulge in some interesting flavours.
And I SOOOOO wish Kit Kat would do this wonderful flavours in Australia. There is a guy on ebay selling them at the moment, and I’m seriously considering buying some in. I miss them!
Hey mellie! Saw this page today and thought of you…
http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/taste_test_japanese_kitkats
Wait’s I’ll do it properly: link!
Ooh ooh claire – thank you so much!
But soy sauce flavoured Kit Kats?!? What is the world coming to! But the kinako one sounds interesting!
I actually found a couple of new ones I haven’t tried at Great Eastern the other day. I’ll blog them shortly