From soybeans to pepper, these are the strangest KitKat flavours you can find

KitKat has firmly established itself as an iconic part of the Japanese food scene. The most fascinating aspect of the Japanese appreciation for KitKat is just how many different varieties of this chocolate there are.

As per tsunagu Japan, here are the usual KitKats flavours that are available in Japan throughout the year: original chocolate, dark chocolate, green tea, strong green tea, roasted green tea, and raspberry.

While these different flavours in themselves are fascinating and sound super delicious, there are a whole host of other extremely weird flavours that you might not believe exist in Japan.

The reason Japan has so many KitKat flavours

According to tsunagu Japan, Kit Kat was first introduced in Japan in 1973. At the turn of the millennium, the company started introducing different flavours in the product, which proved so popular that they have not looked back since. There have been almost 400 different flavours of KitKat that have been developed in the country over the years.

There are different flavours of KitKat that get launched to mark seasonal changes, as well as regional flavours, with different parts of Japan having their own unique KitKat flavours.

Over time, KitKat has evolved as souvenirs and gifts, cementing a unique place for itself in popular food culture. As the article states,

popularity for Kit Kats grew with Nestle Japan’s ability to capitalize on Japan’s souvenir-giving culture, while limited-edition flavors create an image of scarcity and rarity, increasing the value of the Kit Kats for its customers.

Most Off-Beat KitKat flavours

There is a whole host of very weird KitKats. Here are some of the most interesting KitKat flavours on offer:

• Cassis (Japanese black currant)
• Yuzu (a type of citrus fruit)
• Umeshu (Japanese plum wine)
• Passion fruit
• Pepper
• Soy sauce
• Miso soup
• Ginger ale
• Mashed & boiled green soybeans
• Strawberry Cheesecake
• Wasabi
• Banana
• Pear

Sources used:

tsunagu Japan: ‘A Guide to Japanese Kit Kat Flavors - From Regional Collections to Limited Editions’

Tokyo Treat: ‘Ranking the 30 weirdest and most delicious Japanese Kit Kat’