Exploring Japan’s Exclusive Kit Kat Flavors: Milo and Tokyo Banana

Nestle’s take on Kit Kat in Japan has created some of the best-tasting snacks in the world. The chocolate-coated wafer comes in a wide range of unique flavors. In this post, we’ll explore some of the iconic Japanese Kit Kat flavors over the last decade, including the famous Milo and Tokyo Banana releases. Introduction to Japan’s Kit Kat Obsession People in Japan absolutely love Kit Kats, especially those that come in unique flavors. The market for these chocolate-covered wafers in the region is so large that exclusive flavors have been created just to serve people in the country. Some of these limited edition and seasonal flavors have turned Japanese Kit Kat into a global phenomenon. In Japanese culture, Kit Kat is not your regular snack. It’s considered a symbol of good luck and offered as gifts on special occasions. It’s common practice to give these treats as gifts to students before major exams. This practice is associated with the expression “Kitto Katsu,” which means “You will surely win” in English. What Makes Japanese Kit Kats Unique? Japanese Kit Kits are special because of their exclusive and seasonal flavors. There are over 300 flavors of Japanese KitKats and a large chunk of them are made seasonal, limited edition, and regional-exclusive. They are made with high-quality ingredients, giving them a richer and fuller taste than bars from other regions. There is no limit to the type of flavors in these Kit Kats, as many of them feature unconventional snack ingredients like bitter-sweet matcha, savory soy sauce, and slightly acidic sake. To give you a clear understanding of Nestle’s approach to Kit flavors in Japan, we’ll look at a couple of iconic regional-exclusives. Kit Kat Milo: A Collaboration with a Global Favorite In 2022, Nestle implemented the genius idea to marry two of their top global brands in one massive collaboration product, Kit Kat Milo flavor. In case you don’t know, Milo is malt chocolate powder typically consumed by mixing with milk, water, or both to create a sweet beverage. Both Milo and Kit Kat are popular Nestle products in Japan, so the new collaboration product had the foundations for success. Kit Kat Milo features the typical crispy wafer coated with milk chocolate. However, the chocolate coating is infused with Milo. You get to enjoy the malty sweetness that comes with the chocolatey combo. It contains soy, milk, wheat, and nuts. Nestle has created one product that appeals to both Kit Kat and Milo lovers around the world. Although it was made for the Japanese market, online Asian stores like Sugoi Mart have made them available to the rest of the world. Kit Kat Tokyo Banana: A Sweet Tribute to Tokyo No, Tokyo Banana is not a special type of banana sold in Tokyo. It’s actually a cream-filled sponge cake shaped like a banana. The filling used in the cake also contains banana flavoring. Manufactured and sold by Grapestone Co., the dessert is considered the official sweet of Tokyo and the go-to souvenir for tourists. Despite its name, Tokyo Banana is not only sold in Tokyo but also in other major Japanese cities. The Kit Kat X Tokyo Banana collaboration has created one of the best chocolate bars in the country. It combines the creamy sweetness of Tokyo Banana cream, the richness of chocolate, and the crunchiness of wafers to create a smooth and delicious modern snack. Tokyo Banana’s Iconic Status in Japanese Desserts Tokyo Banana is not just famous as a delicious treat. The iconic name and packaging of this sponge cake product have led to its widespread use as a souvenir. Many tourists who visit Japan love to return home with a few packs of Tokyo Banana. Hence, it is officially known as Tokyo’s souvenir sweet. The product’s fancy packaging will keep the cake fresh for about a week. Behind the Collaborations: The Art of Japanese Kit Kat Innovation These collaborations reflect Japan’s traditions, innovations, and creativity in snacks. They seem to take popular pieces of the culinary culture and merge them with the chocolate wafers, offering consumers the best of both worlds. Collaborations also allow Kit Kat to cater to those who value novelty and are always looking for the next best treat, which is a common trait among snack lovers in Japan. The Rarest Kit Kat Flavors from Japan While Milo and Tokyo Banana Kit Kats are famous in Japan, there are a few surprising flavors that are not well known but are fantastic options for those who can secure them. Azuki Sando This Kit Kat uses a combination of red beans (azuki) and sando, a Japanese sandwich filled with fruits or other fillings. The candy bar is inspired by azuki sando in Aichi Prefecture in Japan’s Tokai region. The Azuki Sando Kit Kat is arguably the rarest flavor of KitKat. Safari Maple There aren’t many safaris in Japan. However, Gunma Prefecture has a popular safari, which is the inspiration for the packaging theme of this product. The wafer is coated with white chocolate infused with the taste of maple. Wasabi Nestle partners with one of the most popular wasabi shops, Tamaruya Honten, to create a spicy masterpiece. It features real wasabi from Shizuoka, white chocolate, and horseradish. The Newest Kit Kat Flavors to Try The new Kit Kat flavor is the Vanilla Kit Kat, which has been making waves in the United States recently. However, in Japan, people have been enjoying other flavors. Let’s discuss recent flavor releases in Japan. Winter Matcha Latte KitKat This Kit Kat is a new limited edition product created for the winter of 2024. Kit Kat collaborated with Ito En, one of the top tea manufacturers in Japan. The snack features Uji matcha, which is a specialty in Kyoto, the green tea capital. KitKat Strawberry Shortcake The white chocolate coating used in this version is made with bits of premium strawberry. It also features a rich and creamy shortcake infusion that rounds out the flavor. Although released around the summer season in 2024, this is already a favorite flavor among Kit Kat lovers in Japan. Most Popular Kit Kat Flavors in Japan With over 300 options available, we decided to curate a list of the top-selling flavors of Kit Kat. This should help you make a choice faster. Enjoy! Matcha (Green tea) Matcha green tea is the most popular Kit Kat flavor in Japan. It is made with crispy wafer bars coated with sweet and smooth white chocolate that has been infused with bitter matcha. This version’s popularity is a result of its unique yet perfectly balanced bittersweet flavor. ==https://www.bokksumarket.com/collections/all-asian-kit-kat-bokksu-market/products/japanese-kit-kat-rich-green-tea== Sake Sake Kit Kat features a subtle but unmistakable taste of traditional Japanese rice wine. It has a slightly fruity and acidic taste with a small alcoholic content. Cheesecake The wafer bars in this famous snack are coated with white chocolate and creamy filling flavored with the taste of cheesecake. The dessert is so popular in Japan that it can be used as a birthday cake. Many people in the country enjoy Cheesecake Kit Kat as a portable, everyday snack. Other Popular Kit Kat Flavors You’ll Love There are hundreds of other popular Kit Kat flavors in Japan today. We can’t review them all in this post, but we will mention a few. They include Hojicha, Ehime Iyokan Orange, Strawberry, Purple Sweet Potato, Milk Tea, Vanilla Ice Cream, and Dark Chocolate. Explore Bokksu Market’s Kit Kat collection to get access to some of those unique flavors and more. Why Are Japanese Kit Kats Perfect for Gifting? Japanese Kit Kats make ideal gifts and souvenirs because of their unique packaging and regional exclusivity. One also has to consider their cultural significance as symbols of good luck, especially among students. People often write messages like “Kitto Katsu” along with such gifts. ==https://www.bokksumarket.com/collections/all-asian-kit-kat-bokksu-market/products/kit-kat-sampler-50-pcs== Where to Buy Japanese Kit Kat Flavors In Japan, you will find limited edition and seasonal Kit Kats in department stores and The Kit Kat Chocolatory Ginza. However, the best way to find these flavors outside Japan is to shop at an online Asian store like Bokksu Market. Our platform is dedicated to bringing the best snacking flavors from Japan to people in the United States. Savor the Creativity of Japanese Kit Kats A perfect reflection of Japan’s creativity in snacks, these Kit Kats offer more than just tasty treats. Try as many of their unique flavors as you like and explore Bokksu Market for more Japanese Kit Kat products.