This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Alexandrea Ciardella. Find her on Instagram at @a6ysma1. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
If you’re a fan of the chocolate brand Kit Kat, you may also be aware of the fact that the Japanese brand of Kit Kats has many more flavors. About 300 more to be exact. But most of the flavors are difficult to find in the US, and the commercially available ones are more expensive Why are there so many Japanese Kit Kat Varieties and where can you get them?
Kit Kats as a candy first arrived in Japan in 1973, with the first-ever “Japanese Kit Kat” being introduced in 2000. Nestle Japan- the manufacturer of the Kit Kat brand in the country- introduced a strawberry Kit Kat at the beginning of strawberry season and it was a big hit. Since then, hundreds of flavors have been created, the licensing agreement allowing Nestle Japan to create anything from matcha to mochi-flavored Kit Kats. There are even region-specific Kit Kats, making them a collectible for candy fans. But because Hershey licenses Kit Kats in the United States, that means most of us won’t get the unique flavors or varieties that Kit Kat has to offer. Hershey tries to play it safe when it comes to Kit Kat flavors, worried that flavors that are too foreign may not sell as well as traditional flavors.
In my personal experience, I’ve only had melon and strawberry-flavored Kit Kats. The melon was okay- imagine you mixed a cantaloupe with white chocolate and molded it into the shape of a Kit Kat. It was a unique flavor, but I wouldn’t see myself binging on them whenever I got hungry. The strawberry on the other hand was amazing- sweet and tart, the chocolate tasted like real strawberries, the complete opposite of the artificial flavoring that I was expecting. It was amazing, and it was what inspired me to want to write this blog post.
But these candies aren’t easy to find in America. Because of the licensing agreement, most of the chocolate is made in Japan and then shipped over to the United States. Smaller bags that consist of 8-12 individual chocolates land roughly in the $6 range. The cheapest avenue I would recommend would be to stop by a local Asian market- though the variety of flavors can be a bit limited. There are companies such as Japan Crate or Tokyo Treat that offer a wider variety- even variety packs that consist of multiple different flavors- though the price ranges from $50-$65 in some cases. My opinion? If you want to try everything that Japanese Kit Kats have to offer, buy a variety pack, find a few flavors that you really enjoy, and then see what the cheapest option is.
Despite the difficulties in getting affordable Japanese Kit Kats here in the U.S., there’s still a whole list of Kit Kat flavors I would like to try. After looking at a comprehensive list, here’s a list of the top flavors I would like to try with a short description of each.
Raspberry
A year-round flavor, this candy has a raspberry flavor and dried raspberry mixed into white chocolate.
Strawberry milk
Strawberry milk is a popular drink in Japan, but this flavor is only available in the winter. It has a similar taste to the strawberry Kit Kat, but a bit creamier.
Melty caramel
Another year-round flavor, this is part of their “adult sweetness” line, meaning it’s not too sweet, which can be an issue some people have with caramel.
Milk Tea
This creamy Kit Kat is only available for the fall season!
Strawberry Gateau Chocolate
Strawberry Gateau Chocolate is based on the cake with the same name, this Kit Kat contains melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and strawberry jam.
Cookies and Cream
White chocolate speckled with cookie pieces, it’s a mystery why this hasn’t been introduced to the U.S. yet!
Salt and Lemon
Only available for the summer season, these Kit Kats combine sweet, sour, and salty into one.
Premium Citrus Mint
Reminiscent of a summer mojito, this Kit Kat combines mint and lemon into a refreshing chocolate.
Apple Pie
Despite its violet color, this fall Kit Kat tastes like apple and cinnamon!
How many Japanese Kit Kat varieties do you want to try? Leave a comment below with your favorite flavor!
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