We Tried It: Sweet Potato, Banana And Other Unusual Foreign Kit Kat Flavors
You’ve probably heard the ubiquitous jingle: “Give me a break, give me a break, break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar” (in fact, it was used as an example of an “earworm” in a University of Cincinnati study of catchy songs). But there’s also a lesser-known side to this popular chocolate candy. Namely, the unique, creative and often downright bizarre foreign Kit Kat flavors sold in other countries — primarily Japan.
Kitto katsu, the Japanese translation of Kit Kat, means “you’ll surely win,” but some of these flavors don’t feel like winners. Don’t get us wrong; we love chocolate. But “break me off a piece of that corn-flavored Kit Kat bar”? We’re not convinced. Here are 11 foreign Kit Kat flavors, where you can find them, and what people thought of the ones they tried. And watch the video above to see Babbel staffers react to a blind taste test of some of the flavors!
11 Fun and Funky Foreign Kit Kat Flavors
1. Corn
What they’re called: Grilled Corn Kit Kat
Apparently, it tastes like sweet, buttered corn mixed with white chocolate.
Where they’re sold: Hokkaido, Japan
What people thought: One NPR reporter tried it and said: “That is the NASTIEST THING I HAVE EVER EATEN.”
2. Sweet Potato
What they’re called: Beni Imo Kit Kat
Beni imo is a purple yam or sweet potato, found primarily on Okinawa and the southern part of Kyushu. This sweet, colorful delicacy is commonly used in baked goods and ice cream in those areas, so naturally it was applied to Kit Kats.
Where they’re sold: Japanese islands of Okinawa and Kyushu
What people thought: Our social media producer Taylor wasn’t a fan: “Why would you want a sweet potato in candy form?!”
3. Soy Sauce
What they’re called: Soy Sauce Kit Kat
Soy sauce is a popular condiment in Japan, made from slightly different ingredients than the well-known Chinese soy sauce, and therefore sweeter. Perhaps due to the ubiquity of the condiment, soy sauce-flavored Kit Kats were the most popular variety in Japan as of 2010.
Where they’re sold: Across Japan
What people thought: Chris of Oyatsu Break! blog wrote, “If you’d given me this Kit Kat and told me that it was maple syrup flavour, I’d call it a triumph and one of the most accurate Kit Kat flavours to date. But… soy sauce? I couldn’t really taste any no matter how many little bites I had.”
4. Banana
What they’re called: Tokyo Banana Kit Kat
To be clear, a Tokyo banana is not a piece of fruit. It’s a yellow sponge cake filled with a banana custard that’s slightly sweet. Tokyo bananas are primarily sold in Tokyo (no surprises there), and foreign tourists often bring them home as souvenirs.
Where they’re sold: Tokyo, Japan
What people thought: Our designer Drew enjoyed it: “Hands down, my favorite was definitely banana… it actually tastes like banana!”
5. Cookies & Cream
What they’re called: Canada — Cookies & Cream, Biscuits et crème (French)
Australia — Cookies & Cream Break
U.K. — Cookies & Cream Kit Kat
Where they’re sold: Canada; Australia; United Kingdom
What people thought: Here’s what lil_lazza from productreview.com.au thought: “nice and tasty however a bit sickening as the cookies and cream layer is just a cookies and cream flavoured paste.”
6. Wasabi
What they’re called: Tamaruya Honten Wasabi Kit Kat
Tamaruya Honten is the name of a Japanese company that manufactures and sells wasabi products. Wasabi (also known as Japanese horseradish) is a plant in the same family as horseradish and mustard. It’s generally served as a paste and its incredibly pungent flavor is often used to make foods like sushi spicier.
Where they’re sold: Shizuoka and Kanto regions of Japan (includes Tokyo)
What people thought: Mike from Kotaku wrote, “It’s wasabi plus sweetness, which would not work at all if not an amazing bit of chocolate engineering on Nestlé’s part. That trademark burn has been transformed from feeling to flavor. You do not feel the heat. You taste the heat.”
7. Matcha Green Tea
What they’re called: Uji Matcha Kit Kat
Uji, a Japanese city south of Kyoto, is famous for its production of matcha — a finely ground powder made of green tea leaves. Though matcha lattes have become popular across the globe, particularly in trendy U.S. cities, this matcha-flavored foreign Kit Kat is only popular in Japan and Canada.
Where they’re sold: Kyoto Prefecture of Japan; Canada
What people thought: Our designer Ally said, “I love how the matcha flavor is able to come through the sweetness — it’s a very pleasant bittersweet taste that pairs well with the wafer texture. I actually like these better than regular Kit Kats!”
8. Apple
What they’re called: Shinshu Apple Kit Kat
Apples are a common staple of Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, which was formerly known as Shinshu. In fact, due to its warm climate and high elevation, the region is the second-biggest apple producer in all of Japan.
Where they’re sold: Shinano or Shinshu Province of Japan (now part of Nagano Prefecture)
What people thought: Nicole from That Food Cray!!! was a big fan: “This is probably one of my favorite Kit Kat flavors I’ve tasted thus far #realtalk. The apple was sweet, but not overpowering or artificial tasting at all and complimented the milk chocolate quite nicely.”
9. Rum Raisin
What they’re called: Tokyo Rum Raisin Kit Kat
This limited edition foreign Kit Kat is chocolate with rum and raisin flavoring and is meant to represent the sophistication of the city of Tokyo.
Where they’re sold: Tokyo, Japan
What people thought: Shigeki of Snakuu wrote, “If you like KitKats, rum, or Japanese snacks, this is a must buy.”
10. Hokkaido Melon with Mascarpone Cheese
What they’re called: Hokkaido Melon Kit Kat
Hokkaido, the northernmost of the main Japanese islands, is known for its delicious melons. These melons are so highly regarded that a pair of Hokkaido cantaloupe sold for the equivalent of $27,000 in 2016. Marscarpone cheese is also pretty popular in Japan, so Nestle mixed the two flavors to form this foreign Kit Kat, described by a British newspaper as “basically like melon cheesecake drizzled in white chocolate.”
Where they’re sold: Across Japan
What people thought: M from peachgummy.com said, “The melon is so far and away the main flavor that the mascarpone is more or less an afterthought — so for everyone out there that was freaking out over the ‘melon, cheese, and chocolate, ohmigod!’ thing, I think you’d be disappointed by how decidedly non-weird the Melon Mascarpone Kit Kat actually is overall.”
11. Cough Drop
What they’re called: Nodo Ame Aji Kit Kat
Reports say this foreign Kit Kat includes “2.1 percent throat lozenge powder in every serving,” mixed with white chocolate. I really can’t contain my disgust at this one.
Where they’re sold: Across Japan
What people thought: From genkidesu of City Cost: “[My husband and I] both agreed that they tasted something like a choc-mint flavored treat – but with a more menthol flavored, medicinal aftertaste. Not as horrible as we were expecting, but not something we would go out of our way to purchase again!”
Header Image: Nestle Japan
