New(ish) Kit Kats

There are several new...ish varieties of Kit Kats out there to track down and try...if you've just started eating Japanese Kit Kats. If you've been at this awhile, and I have, then you will recognize some of these as regional varieties who are getting some time on the main stage. Some of them are just getting their second (or fifth or sixth) chance at it.

If you missed the regional varieties because you don't have an awesome friend named Marie who traveled to Hokkaido to bring you back Kit Kat then this is your chance to try them. I'm not sure there's any urgency on the Pudding Kit Kat. I can guarantee that will be back again, but the Tiramisu might be worth a try. Either way, I won't be reviewing them again but I've linked to my first reviews below.

Edamame Zunda Kit Kat (once a regional Kit Kat from Tohoku.)

Yubari Melon Kit Kat (once a regional Kit Kat from Hokkaido.)

Custard Pudding Kit Kat (released several times various ways and only strawberry beats it in the so tired of it category.)

Tiramisu Kit Kat (I reviewed this one once before very early on and I'm still on the fence whether to try it again. In the meantime you can laugh at my early attempts at blogging or wish for the days when I was less verbose and got on with the chocolate reviewing.)


And because I'm trying to stick to my no more Strawberry Kit Kats rule I am definitely not reviewing the Bitter Strawberry Kit Kat even if it does look slightly intriguing. Instead I will point you to someone who isn't forced to pay international shipping for the pleasure of yet another Strawberry Kit Kat. Check out Orchid64's take on the Bitter Strawberry Kit Kat at her blog Japanese Snack Reviews.

That's all for now! If you've seen anything I've missed let me know!

Strawberry Cake Kit Kat

It's summer in Ohio and that means big red smokies, baked beans, corn on the cob and my favorite - strawberry short cake. In Japan it's not the time for strawberries or strawberry cake - that would be at Christmas which explains why this Kit Kat has been out for awhile. However, I'm on a Midwest America schedule so that's my excuse for why I've just gotten around to trying it. Also because I just can't get excited about another strawberry Kit Kat.

This incarnation - the Strawberry Cake Kit Kat - comes in minis that have 68 calories each and are made with white chocolate. They smell faintly of strawberry and are alight pink color. The idea is that they should taste like strawberry cake - the very sweet confection that the Japanese eat at Christmas. There isn't much of a "cake" taste per say, unless you count the wafers but the strawberry is muted and there is a definite hint of whipped cream in there. It's not bad. Actually it's pretty good. It's just that we've seen strawberry time and time again and I'm running out of things to say. If you get the chance to try - go for it. If you've tried the other million strawberry Kit Kats Nestle has put out then you won't miss anything by giving this a pass.

Final Score: 7

Mikan Big Little Kit Kat

It's getting harder and harder for me to buy Kit Kats. When I was in Japan I could rationalize purchasing just about anything. I would buy Strawberry Kit Kats with only the slightest of variations if I found them in the 7-11 across the street. Purin Kit Kats in different incarnations - Chunky, Little, Mini, Regular from the Sunkus next to Toyohashi Station were a snore after awhile but they were there so why not?

Now that I'm back in the States and buying my Kit Kats online the thought of paying shipping for yet another Purin or Strawberry Kit Kat isn't as easy to rationalize. The latest craze in the Kit Kat world is releasing existing flavors but as Big Little Kit Kat. Big Little is pretty much the definition of an oxymoron and not enough of a twist to convince me to spend the money on international shipping. I did shell out for the Mikan Big Little Kit Kat but it will be my last. Only truly new flavors from here on out - or until I go into Kit Kat withdraw.

I did break down and buy the Mikan Big Little Kit Kat even though I've had other orange Kit Kats before. I rationalize it by telling myself I haven't had mikan yet. But still, it's really nothing very new. I challenge Nestle to wow me with some truly new flavors that I can get excited about.

But until then...the Mikan Big Little Kit Kat has 224 calories. In my little pack I got 9 large milk chocolate cubes. It's hard to tell if these are really bigger since I don't have a Little Little Kit Kat to compare too but I'd say the difference is minimal. They smelled orange-y although it was more of a kitchen cleaner citrus smell than of a ripe juicy mikan (mandarin orange). The taste was less artificial and really more of an afterthought rather than a dominant flavor, which I actually approved of. The cream was very creamy. The milk chocolate paired nicely with the orange flavor for an overall great tasting snack.

I've had other orange incarnations but this might be one of my favorite. It actually makes me wonder if I shouldn't go ahead and just buy more of the Big Little versions after all. Thoughts?

Final Score: 7


This is my first post since the quake and tsunami in Japan. I hope that any of my readers living in that area are safe and sound. Personally, I'm relieved to report that all friends and acquaintances are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with those in the quake zone and I encourage you to donate to the relief effort, specifically to the Japanese Red Cross.

Kawagoe Baked Sweet Potato Kit Kat-regional limited edition

I have an announcement to make.

Drumroll please...

dundundundundun

I have tried every Regional Limited Edition Kit Kat available.

That's right. Thanks to extensive travel this past year, helpful friends, and the internet I have tried every specialty flavor from Annin Dofu to Shinshu Apple to Yubari Melon. I think I missed the Intense Kinako from the Tokyo area but it's no longer available so I'm not counting it. I've ftried every one on the page today, Finishing up with the Kawagoe Sweet Baked Potato Kit Kat today.

The Kawagoe Sweet Baked Potato Kit Kat is the third time I've tried a sweet potato Kit Kat but so far it's been the best. Someone at Nestle heard my plea that they should make a Kit Kat that tasted like my mom's sweet potato casserole she makes for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Sweet Baked Potato Kit Kat has 69 calories in each mini bar. I bought mine from NapaJapan but if you're traveling in Japan you can find it in the Saitama area. The bar was made with white chocolate and was a light yellow color. It smelled like brown sugar and while it tasted like sweet potato it was heavy on the brown sugar in the flavor department as well. Not that I'm complaining. Like I said, it tastes just like my mom's sweet potato casserole. While I don't mind the purple sweet potatoes, the color for is enough to make me smile while eating them, I still prefer the orange yams. And this Kit Kat tasted more like them than the purple sweet potatoes.

Too bad that these are expensive to order online - one cost $2.49 because I would have loved to try more. I recommend trying them if you can get your hands on them.

Final Score: 8

Relaxing Chocolate Kit Kat

Relaxing Chocolate is a strange name for a Kit Kat but there is a woman lounging about with some chocolate on the package. Per its name this will be a pretty relaxed review. But really that's because there really isn't much to say about it.

The Kutsurogi Kit Kat is made with slightly darker chocolate than a regular Kit Kat. They have 72 calories each. It had a nice melt and was a great break from some of the more crazy flavors but I don't know if I would recommend spending the extra money to order it from Japan when a regular Kit Kat is nearly the same. Still if you get the chance sit back and relax and enjoy a Relaxing Chocolate Kit Kat.

Happy Monday!

Final Score: 8

Le Lectier Kit Kat - Niigata Limited Edition

The Le Lectier Kit Kat is another example of how Japanese people like to randomly throw French phrases around. Although if you sound out the katakana next to it on the packaging you come out with "lu le ku chi e" which sounds nothing at all like French. Although to be fair my own French accent was mocked first in French class and later in France so I can't judge. Also I'm going to stop saying The Le Lectier Kit Kat because that's redundant n'est ce pas?

Anyway for those not in the know Le Lectier is a popular pear grown in Niigata making it a prime candidate for a regional limited edition. This one is not sold in the Nestle E-shop so the only way to get your hands on some is to make your way to Niigata or hope that napaJapan has some in stock. (I'm in Ohio so I got mine from napaJapan.) When it comes to fruit the pear is pretty near the bottom of the list of favorites and I never could get excited when we got pear halves with school lunch in Tahara but I tried not to let my pear hating ways get in the way of enjoying this Kit Kat.

Le Lectier Kit Kat has 69 calories and is made with white chocolate. Upon opening it there was a strong artificial pear smell. Fortunately the artificial only extended to the smell and not to the taste. This mini had a nice smooth pear flavor to it that was pretty tasty. It was concentrated in the chocolate but it was there in the wafers as well. It was very sweet but not sickening. I'm not a huge fan of white chocolate but this one was definitely better than some of the other incarnations. I can wholeheartedly recommend Le Lectier if you can get your hands on it. And if you've tried a real le lectier pear let me know if they're truly better than your standard pear. I'm curious.

Final Score: 8

Happy New Year!

Or akemashite omedetou as they say in Japanese. 2010 was a good year in many respects and by my count I tried 40 new and different Kit Kats.

I have 4 flavors waiting in the wings and we're heading into testing season in Japan which always leads to lots of new flavors as Nestle tries to convince parents that they should buy their beleaguered students a Kit Kat as a token of encouragement. In the meantime start the new year off right by checking out the reviews below from some of my fellow snack bloggers.

Ebidebby at Snack Love reviews the Kokutou and Kinako Kit Kat.

Candyblog reviews the SemiSweet and Bitter Almond Kit Kats.

And for a few versions I won't be trying- Orchid64 at Japanese Snack Reviews gives her take on Little Big Kit Kat Mikan (isn't little big contradictory?) and also a crispier version the Otoshidama Kit Kat.

Here's to 2011 and what I hope will be many more inspired flavors from our friends at Nestle Japan!