Wasabi and Gold Leaf Kit Kats? Only in Japan!

People are crazy for Kit-Kats in Japan and there are over 300 varieties sold. There are even stores that exclusively sell the bar. It is by far the most popular candy in Japan. It has even been coated with gold leaf as a special edition last December and sold for $16 dollars for a single stick.  Nestle must be making a killing over there.

Kit Kat is so popular that it is sold at high-end department stores, Kit Kat-only specialty shops and even post offices, and it is so ingrained in the nation’s snack culture that nearly every region has a signature flavor sold only in that part of the country.

As a result a hungry traveler could eat scores of different flavors of Kit Kat. Here is but a sample of recently available flavors:

Adzuki Bean · Apple · Blueberry · Butter · Cheesecake · Chili · Coconut · Edamame · Green Tea · Green Tea (Sakura) · Green Tea (Uji) · Hazelnut · Kobe Pudding · Matcha · Miso · Passion Fruit · Pear · Perfect Balance Citrus (orange, lemon, lime) · Plum · Purple Sweet Potato · Roasted Tea · Rum Raisin · Strawberry · Strawberry Maple · Wasabi

It’s interesting how many flavors would not go over well in the US, but that’s the very cool thing about the diversity in cultural tastes! Read more about this Japanese phenomenon in the New York Times.