Japanese Kit Kats Come In 200+ Flavours

Kit Kats are a classic snack. I don’t know a single human being that wouldn’t happily slam one of those bad boys down their gullet, satiated or not. Today I came across the incredible (and almost unbelievable) fact that Japan currently has 16+ different types of Kit Kat to choose from. That doesn’t seem entirely fair to me.

It gets worse: since the year 2000, they have released more than 200 different flavours (more than one a month), including a soy sauce flavoured version (they can keep that one).

Since the advent of the so-called “chunky” Kit Kat, us Brits now have some additional flavours to choose from, but it is nowhere near 16. So, before we get down to the delicious business of showcasing Japan’s flavour selection, let’s have a brief look at the history of the Kit Kat shall we?

Kit Kat c.1937

The term “Kit Kat” or “Kit Cat” has been used for snack items since the 18th century; mutton pies, known as a Kit-Kats, were served at meetings of the political Kit-Cat Club in London. Although they shared a name, I’m assuming their flavour was fairly different from the modern-day Kit Kat.

Rowntree’s first trademarked both Kit Kat and Kit Cat in 1911 but it wasn’t until 1920 that a chocolate based product called Kit Kat was first sold to a ravenous British Isles.

The first chocolaty Kit Kat item was in fact a box of chocolates, and nothing like the modern version. But, its life was short. As focus shifted onto Rowntree’s Black Magic and Dairy Box brands the Kit Kat selection fell out of favour. The Kit Kat in the format we know and love today was actually born from a suggestion box at York’s Rowntree factory. Workers there suggested a type of bar that “a man could take to work in his pack”.

Rownree’s Chocolate Crisp

The bar, in its regular format, was first released in the south of England in 1935 and cost 2d, but it was called “Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp.” Not a snappy title at all. In 1937, it received its proper Kit Kat title.

Today Kit Kats are produced by Nestlé in 16 countries and in the US they are produced under license by Hershey (below). In 2014, Kit Kat was the third best-selling chocolate bar in the UK after Dairy Milk and Galaxy.

So why do Japan get so many flavours? Well, it’s a marketing thing (obviously). Kit Kats are heavily marketed to youngsters who often give them away as gifts. Japan has a culture of gift-giving, a good luck gift is an essential thing to carry about your person at all times, just in case an unexpected gift-giving occasion should occur. It helps that the brand name mirrors their phrase “Kitto Katsu” which, roughly translated, means “surely win”.

Anyhow, before I get too carried away in the banal history of a snack (“too late” I hear you cry), here are some of the wonders that Kit Kat offers the good folks of Japan:

Wasabi

Vanilla Beans

Soy Bean Powder

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Pudding

Matcha (Tea) Milk

Houji Tea

Hot Japanese Chilli



Grilled Sweet Potato

Fruit Parfait

Creamy Apple

Cinnamon Cookie

Brown Sugar

Blueberry Fromage

Banana

Azuki (Red Bean) Sandwich

Apricot Seed

 

For the real Kit Kat geeks out there, I found this list of ALL of the flavours and styles that Kit Kat have released over the last few decades in Japan. It truly is bewildering:

1973-1977 Kit Kat (Four-Finger)

1978-1987 Kit Kat (Two-Finger)

1978-1987 Kit Kat (Five-Pack)

1978-1987 Kit Kat Mini

1988-1993 Kit Kat Four Two-Fingers

1988-1993 Kit Kat Four-Finger

1994-1995 Kit Kat Two-Finger

1994-1995 Kit Kat Four Two-Fingers

1994-1995 Kit Kat Mini

1994-1995 Kit Kat Four-Finger

1994-1995 Kit Kat Stick

1996-1997 Kit Kat Stick Almond

1996-1997 Kit Kat Stick Half Bitter

1998-2000 Kit Kat Two-Finger

1998-2000 Kit Kat Mini

1998-2000 Kit Kat Four-Finger

1998-2000 Kit Kat Stick

1998-2000 Kit Kat Stick Almond

1998-2000 Kit Kat Stick Half Bitter

1998-2000 Kit Kat Petit

1998-2000 Kit Kat Strawberry

2001 Kit Kat Big Cut

2001 Kit Kat Orange

2002 Kit Kat Big Cut Jumbo Pack

2002 Kit Kat Banana

2002 Kit Kat Mini Banana

2003 Kit Kat Two-Finger

2003 Kit Kat 2 X Two-Finger

2003 Kit Kat Eight Sticks

2003 Kit Kat Big Cut

2003 Kit Kat Mini White

2003 Kit Kat Strawberry Milk

2003 Kit Kat Double Berry

2003 Kit Kat Gold

2003 Kit Kat Petit

2003 Kit Kat Petit Strawberry

2004 Kit Kat Cold Pack

2004 Kit Kat Lemon Cheese Cake Flavour

2004 Kit Kat Mini Can

2004 Kit Kat Super Cup

2004 Kit Kat Uji Maccha Green Tea

2005 Kit Kat Passion Fruit

2005 Kit Kat Cafe Latte

2005 Kit Kat Mini Yoghurt Flavour

2005 Kit Kat Tumbler Pack

2005 Kit Kat Chocolatier Noir

2005 Kit Kat Strawberry With Grains

2005 Kit Kat White Maple Syrup

2005 Kit Kat Mini Grape

2005 Kit Kat Mini Caramel Pudding Flavour

2006 Kit Kat France Brittany Milk

2006 Kit Kat Fruits Parfait Flavour

2006 Kit Kat Strawberry Of Winter

2007 Kit Kat Melting Luxury

2007 Kit Kat Jar

2007 Kit Kat White Hokkaido Milk

2007 Kit Kat Caramel Flavour

2007 Kit Kat Cookie & Milk

2007 Kit Kat Tochi Otome

2007 Kit Kat Kiwi

2007 Kit Kat Melting Luxury Uji Maccha Green Tea

2007 Kit Kat Melting Luxury Apple In Season

2008 Kit Kat Tasty Strawberry

2008 Kit Kat White

2008 Kit Kat Soy Sauce

2008 Kit Kat Oshiruko Flavour

2008 Kit Kat Mini Caramel Pudding Flavour

2008 Kit Kat Caramel Macchiato Flavour

2008 Kit Kat Gold Pack

2008 Kit Kat Mini Water Melon

2008 Kit Kat Strawberry Cheese Cake Flavour

2008 Kit Kat Melting Luxury Gianduja

2008 Kit Kat Melting Luxury Tea With Scent

2008 Kit Kat Blueberry Cheese Cake Flavour

2008 Kit Kat Mini Hoji Cha

2008 Kit Kat Muscat Of Alexandria

2008 Kit Kat Mini Citron

2008 Kit Kat Little Lucky Little

2008 Kit Kat Itohkyuemon Uji Maccha Green Tea

2008 Kit Kat Mini Salt

2008 Kit Kat Salt

2008 Kit Kat Mini Kohaku Pack

2008 Kit Kat Mini Muscovado

2008 Kit Kat When You Wish Upon A Star Triple Berry

2008 Kit Kat Candied Sweet Potato Flavour

2008 Kit Kat Soy Milk Chocolate Flavour

2008 Kit Kat Mini White Peach & Yellow Peach

2008 Kit Kat Apple

2008 Kit Kat Cookie Plus

2008 Kit Kat Mini Strawberry Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Full Of Fruit

2009 Kit Kat Cookie Plus Whole Wheat Flour

2009 Kit Kat Convey Your Feeling

2009 Kit Kat Semi-Sweet

2009 Kit Kat Mini Melt-In-The-Mouth Cacao

2009 Kit Kat Sparkling Strawberry

2009 Kit Kat Milk Coffee Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Cookie Plus

2009 Kit Kat Royal Milk Tea Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Mini Lemon Vinegar

2009 Kit Kat Little Spice

2009 Kit Kat Mini Soda Pop

2009 Kit Kat Take Bites Out Of A Whole Bar

2009 Kit Kat Mini Chocolate & Baked Sweet Potatoes

2009 Kit Kat Mini Sour Orange Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Ginger Ale Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Kinako Ohagi Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Mini Custard Pudding Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Mini Strawberry Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Kit Mail

2009 Kit Kat Stick Tiramisu

2009 Kit Kat Stick Maccha Green Tea Tiramisu Flavour

2009 Kit Kat Jasmine Tea

2009 Kit Kat Mini Chocolate & Rose

2009 Kit Kat Mini Chocolate & Uji Maccha Green Tea

2010 Kit Kat Kit Mail

2010 Kit Kat Mini Mix Juice Flavour

2010 Kit Kat Mini Maple

2010 Kit Kat Framboise

2010 Kit Kat Raspberry & Passion Fruit

2010 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness

2010 Kit Kat Gift Money

2010 Kit Kat Bitter Almond

2010 Kit Kat Mini Aloe Yoghurt Flavour

2010 Kit Kat Bar Banana

2010 Kit Kat Bar Adzuki

2010 Kit Kat Cherry Blossom Maccha Green Tea

2010 Kit Kat One Bar

2010 Kit Kat Bar

2010 Kit Kat Mini Three Pieces

2010 Kit Kat Petit Eight Pieces

2010 Kit Kat Mini Twelve Pieces

2010 Kit Kat Petit Fifteen Petit Bags

2010 Kit Kat Mini Fifteen Pieces

2010 Kit Kat Big Little Box

2011 Kit Kat Clear Flavour

2011 Kit Kat Mini Maccha Green Tea Assortment

2011 Kit Kat Kit Mail

2011 Kit Kat Petit Strawberry Hazel Nut

2011 Kit Kat Mini Dessert Assortment

2011 Kit Kat Petit Cookie & Cream

2011 Kit Kat Bar Bitter Strawberry

2011 Kit Kat Big Little Custard Pudding Flavour

2011 Kit Kat Gift Money

2011 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Three Pieces

2011 Kit Kat Big Little Box Grown-Up’S Sweetness

2011 Kit Kat Petit Bag Grown-Up’S Sweetness Thirteen Pieces

2011 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Thirteen Pieces

2011 Kit Kat Mini Mini Mont Blanc Flavour Six Pieces

2011 Kit Kat Mini Strawberry Cake Confiture Flavour

2011 Kit Kat Mini Pumpkin Cheese Cake Flavour Thirteen Pieces

2011 Kit Kat Mini Kohaku Pack Fourteen Pieces

2012 Kit Kat Mini World Variety Thirteen Pieces

2012 Kit Kat Bar Salt Puff One Piece

2012 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Raspberry Three Pieces

2012 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Raspberry Twelve Pieces

2012 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Maccha Green Tea Twelve Pieces

2012 Kit Kat Bar Uji Maccha Green Tea One Piece

2012 Kit Kat Mini Tasty When Frozen Vanilla Ice-Cream Flavour Thirteen Pieces

2012 Kit Kat Big Little Nuts Of Summer 39G

2012 Kit Kat Big Little Cookie & Cream

2012 Kit Kat Mini Devil Pumpkin Pudding Flavour Thirteen Pieces

2012 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness White Three Pieces

2012 Kit Kat Big Little Caramel Pudding Flavour

2013 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Maccha Green Tea Three Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Purple Yam Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Purple Yam Five Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Tamaruya Honten Wasabi Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Shinshu Apple Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Adzuki Bean Sandwich Flavour Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Yawataya Isogoro Flavour Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Itohkyuemon Uji Maccha Green Tea Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Itohkyuemon Uji Maccha Green Tea Five Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Clear Flavour Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Seigoin Yatsuhashi Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Seigoin Yatsuhashi Five Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Amaou Strawberry Twelve Pieces

2913 Kit Kat Mini Itohkyuemon Hoji Cha Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Amaou Strawberry Five Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Itohkyuemon Hoji Cha Five Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Citrus Gold Blend Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Citrus Gold Blend Five Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Tochi Otome Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Strawberry Cheese Cake Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Rum Raisin Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Maccha Green Tea Two Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Kobe Pudding Flavour Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Fujisan Pack Nine Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Uji Maccha Green Tea Three Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Cherry Blossom Maccha Green Tea Three Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Japanese Strawberry Three Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Passion Fruit Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini World Assortment Thirteen Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Tasty When Frozen Cookie & Cream Thirteen Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness White Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Strawberry Three Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Pumpkin Pudding Thirteen Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Strawberry Twelve Pieces

2013 Kit Kat Gift Money Kit Kat (Including Decorative Paper Envelope)

2014 Kit Kat Big Little Grown-Up’S Sweetness Orange Peel

2014 Kit Kat Petit Grown-Up’S Sweetness Strawberry

2014 Kit Kat Mini Grown-Up’S Sweetness Raspberry Twelve Pieces

2014 Kit Kat Mini Tasty When Frozen Vanila Icecream Flavour

2014 Kit Kat Bar Royal Milk Tea

2014 Kit Kat Mini Tasty When Baked Pudding Flavour

2014 Kit Kat Big Little Vanila Icecream Flavour

2014 Kit Kat Train Ticket Kat

2014 Kit Kat Mini Pumpkin Pudding Flavour

2014 Kit Kat Kit Mail

How about that?