The best way to sell a foreign brand in Japan is to localize it, and this is both easier and harder when it comes to food. This is a field that offers a wealth of possibilities, but Japanese consumers are very particular about food.
Nestle Japan, however, has had immense success by adapting its standard Kit Kat chocolate snacks to the local market by drawing inspiration from regional and traditional flavors.
It really got started with matcha Kit Kat, which was a runaway success and also attracted plenty of attention from curious tourists. Since then the brand hasn’t looked back. Here are some of our favorite recent Japanese Kit Kats, all available from Japan Trend Shop.
Kit Kat Valentine’s Assortment Sublime Ruby Chocolate Set
The Kit Kat Valentine’s Assortment Sublime Ruby Chocolate Set contains the world’s first natural ruby chocolate, made from carefully selected ruby cacao beans. The seven-piece set, which makes a perfect gift, has two pieces of the fragrantly fruity and delicately acidic ruby chocolate as well as six others from the Sublime series (Bitter, Milk, White, Matcha, and Raw).
Kit Kat Bakeable Chocolate Ice Cream Flavor
The Kit Kat Bakeable Chocolate Ice Cream Flavor is for those who want a more hands-on approach, allowing you to heat the mini Kit Kat snacks in a toaster oven to create crispy golden-brown delights.
Kit Kat Chocolatory Sakura Cherry Blossom Strawberry
The Kit Kat Chocolatory Sakura Cherry Blossom Strawberry offers a real taste of spring, Japanese-style. The spring season in Japan means two main things: the college entry exams and the start of a new academic year, and the cherry blossom (sakura). This special set comes in a cylindrical package like a graduating diploma, containing five mini Kit Kats with a sakura and strawberry flavor. There’s also a cherry blossom-shaped good luck charm, just the ones that Japanese students rely on at this time of year.
Kit Kat Japanese Sake Flavor
The Kit Kat Japanese Sake Flavor is a Kit Kat aimed squarely at adults, particularly those with a hankering for Japanese sake (nihonshu). Because that’s what this white chocolate Kit Kat tastes like.
Kit Kat Mini Japanese Amazake Flavor
Similarly to the regular Japanese sake version, the Kit Kat Mini Japanese Amazake Flavor is another mini Kit Kat based on a classic Japanese beverage — this time amazake, the sweet fermented rice drink enjoyed at winter. This snack is made from genuine powdered sake and sake lees, flavored with cacao and cocoa butter.
Tokyo Banana Kit Kat
Finally, for Tokyo geeks, this Tokyo Banana Kit Kat combines the fluffy flavors of the most famous food souvenir from Japan’s capital with a crunchy mini Kit Kat. its a great example of how Kit Kat in Japan is frequently merged with regional souvenirs.
And after trying all of these snacks exclusive to Japan, you may never want to settle for a regular Kit Kat ever again!
