I already knew that KitKats were a huge thing in Japan, and thought that I would do a taste test on all KitKats that I could find. Yes, such suffering on behalf of all those who read this blog …

But then I discovered that there have been over 300 different flavours produced, and there are over 40 at anytime. Some flavours are produced and sold in specific areas to mimic regional dishes. So this will definitely not be a tasting blog! Particularly as flavours produce include red bean, matcha, purple sweet potato and soy sauce.

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KitKat are sold in supermarkets in multi bags … 14/15 bars for c £1.65. But remember the bars are miniscule. I have just weighed one & it is 12 grams!

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Judging by the positioning of these banana Kitkats in a convenience store this is either a new flavour or one that hasn’t been around for a while.

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In addition to selling through supermarkets and convenience stores, Nestle are proud that they managed to strike a deal with the Post Office. See the JP (Japan Post) branding on the packaging. These are in card boxes and these in the photograph are a 2021 year of the Ox commemorative product. They are designed especially so that people can add a message and pop them into the post to a friend or relative.

KitKat have become massive in Japan because of a marketing campaign by Nestle played on the similarity of the brand name with Kitto Katsu which translates to ‘You will surely win’ and it became a lucky charm for students before exams.

Somehow, an average chocolate product has been elevated to something way above the average with stand alone shops and premium packaging.

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And in their own shops they highlight, the best selling flavours … but I don’t know if this reflects national sales or just those in their shops. Probably the latter.

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In the shop in Shibuya, it is also possible to ‘make’ your own Kitkats. I was slightly tempted but all instruction is in Japanese.

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Kitkats are also sold in card boxes (each containing three teeny two bar Kitkats all packed separately) ….

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…. but never in the format that we see in the UK with two or four long bars wrapped in foil with a paper sleeve.

I did buy and eat one product especially for this blog – a McDonalds Kitkat McFlurry. It was very unpleasant; so incredibly sweet that it tasted as if I was eating spoonfuls of sugar. I don’t know if McFurrys are sweeter in Japan because this was my first – and last one. Ever!