Kit Kat is one of the world's most well known chocolate bars. Originally created in England by the Rowntree company in 1935 and now sold around the world, Kit Kat's distinctive oval logo and bright red packaging is nearly as ubiquitous as Coca-Cola's. Look closely, however, and differences start to pop up... nowhere more than in Japan, which by rights should be renamed "the Kit Kat Kingdom".Japanese Kit Kat store display

Indeed, Nestle's crispy chocolate covered wafer bar has not only found its true home in the farthest east, it rules there, baby! And it's done so by utilizing a time-honored marketing trick: never get boring. To that end, Japan's tireless legion of advertisers and product planners bring the country's sugar-shocked consumers a seemingly endless variety of Kit Kat flavors, one after another. Most are introduced as limited editions, out for a short time and then gone, replaced by something newer (and, often as not, stranger). Lemon Cheesecake Kit Kat, anyone? Without further ado, let's check out a few of Japan's legendary Kit Kat varieties. (image courtesy Japan Newbie)

Maccha Milk Kit Kat

If there's one thing Kit Kat's marketers know, it's the home market. Witness a pair of flavors not likely to be sold anywhere else but Japan, Maccha Milk Kit Kat and Red Azuki Bean Kit Kat. The former is Green Tea with milk, an unlikely flavor for a chocolate bar but if there's one rule Japanese product planners hold most dear, it's that there ARE no rules. Don't believe me? Consider Red Azuki Bean Kit Kat. BEANS, people. In a chocolate bar! Quite normal in Japan, mind you, where Azuki beans boiled with sugar have sweetened desserts and more for centuries. (images courtesy Monkeytek and Mariemaie's Blog)

Red Azuki Bean Kit Kat

Then we have Sakura, or Cherry Blossom Kit Kat. Introduced in spring to coincide with the tradition of Cherry Blossom viewing, Sakura Kit Kat comes in a pretty pink wrapper and features crème-filled wafer coated in pink Cherry flavored white chocolate. (image courtesy Yusheng)

Sakura Cherry Blossom Kit Kat

Often Kit Kats feature regional specialties such as white chocolate Kit Kat made with Hokkaido milk from Japan's far northern dairyland. One of the most unusual regional bars, though, has to be Yubari Melon . That's right, Melon Kit Kat - sounds like a recipe for bulimia if there ever was! (image courtesy Crystal's VOX)

Yubari Melon Kit Kat

When local influences run dry, don't give up, push that envelope! The result: Apple Kit Kat . Now, you may think that Apple and Chocolate just don't go together. Strawberry, yes, and there have been a large number of Strawberry Kit Kat variations over the years, but Apple? Imagine a nice strawberry fondue - except you're dipping apple slices into the melted chocolate. Sorry, my mind just can't grasp it. (image courtesy Crystal's VOX)

Apple Kit Kat

Leave it to a country that is oblivious to the ever-expanding sales of Kidsbeer, the frothy faux-beer for youngsters that topped my list of The Top Ten Weird and Bizarre Japanese Soft Drinks , to not bat an eye when Wine flavored Kit Kat was introduced. Now as opposed to the Apple variety, Wine Kit Kat is something I can accept, not to mention covet. Officially titled "Kit Kat Chocolatier Wine", this limited edition at least pretends to be adult-oriented. The petite-sized bars feature a luscious red wine flavored white chocolate coating over crisp wafers sandwiching layers of wine-flavored crème filling. A box of these would make a great gift - just don't bring them to your next AA meeting! (image courtesy Junk Food Blog)

Kit Kat Chocolatier Wine

This is only the tip of the chocolate covered iceberg - speaking of which, let's not forget Kit Kat I-Stick, a version meant to be eaten frozen. Sounds like something your mother would warn you against, but I digress. Then we have the luxurious signature editions made in collaboration with gourmet Japanese confectionary chef Takagi, including Bretagne Kit Kat, made with Bretagne milk and Ecuadorian cocoa butter. (image courtesy of datenhamster.org)

Bretagne Kit Kat

Anyway, the list of Japanese Kit Kats is long and getting longer by the month as new versions come down the pipeline. Wikipedia lists 81 versions... 81! If this doesn't qualify as a national obsession, what does? In fact, the list of Japanese Kit Kats, past and present, would give a similar list of Hello Kitty items a run for its money. Hmm... Kit Kat, Hello Kitty, what is it with Japan and kitty kats, er, kitty cats? Should these two juggernauts combine forces, there's no telling what could happen!

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Steve Levenstein
Japanese Innovations Writer
InventorSpot.com

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