Bumper KitKat Bonanza!

This month we have something of a bumper edition of the KitKat Kollective, featuring finds from all over East Asia. We have special editions from Tokyo and Fukuoka, and even a sneaky little charlatan I found in Korea… Enjoy…

Soy Sauce KitKat – 3.5 Fingers

This one really strikes me as a tourist special, being limited only to certain places in Tokyo, and is quite frankly, a bizarre choice for a chocolate bar. That said, it really works… The soy sauce infuses itself with the white chocolate giving a delightfully pungent mapley taste. Ruddy good show Japan.

Wasabi KitKat – 3 Fingers

This is just plain weird. Another of the Tokyo Tourist editions, this really does emulate the overpowering experience of too much of that famous Japanese horse radish. I wouldn’t say it’s one I would choose given the option, but for sheer balls, this gets a solid three fingers.

Kinako (toasted soy bean) KitKat – 2 Fingers

I’m not really sure what to think of the third of my Tokyo specials. Not knowing what kinako actually tastes like on its own (I’ve had it on mochi, but never thought to myself “hmm… I really fancy a spoonful of soybean powder…”), I’m not quite sure how to take it. It kind of tastes like a dusty KitKat. But maybe that’s what they were going for.

Framboise KitKat – 3 Fingers

Usually, I’m not a huge fan of the fruitier KitKats, but this one took me by surprise. Taking on the flavour of raspberry liqueur, it actually manages to taste alcoholic. The raspberry itself is perhaps a little overpowering, and does leave something of a saccharine aftertaste, but overall not an entirely unpleasant experience at all.

Yuzu and Chilli KitKat – 4 Fingers

This, a Fukuoka exclusive, is quite possibly the best variation that I have come across since my Kollecting began; infusing the Japanese citrus fruit yuzu (an aromatic lime-like fruit) with chilli and dark cholcolate, it creates a taste sensation that is just awesome. This is one of the rare payoffs for obsessive collecting. Thank you Mr. N.

Purple Potato KitKat – 0.5 Fingers

An Okinawa special that somehow found itself in Fukuoka station, I really only bought this for the sake of completion. And it’s rubbish. I had the regular potato variety a few months ago, and it was just horrible. And this one is worse, redeemed only by the fact it has a pretty wrapper and some quite attractive purple chocolate. Chocolate and potato simply doesn’t work. Give it up!

Ocha (green tea) KitKat Bar – 3.5 Fingers

Now usually, I’m not much of a fan of green tea. It’s growing on me certainly, but is by now means a beverage of choice. As such, I was delightfully surprised at just how good this one was. Substantial and filling, as all the bar varieties tend to be, this was also curiously tasty. And had green chocolate. Something I always admire.

KicKer – 0 Fingers

I was informed that KitKat was available in Korea, under a different name; KicKer. I was not informed, however, that said bar was a cuckoo’s egg; a pair of knock-off Nikes; a down-right fake. Made by Crown (whoever they are) KicKer, although to the untrained eye, a simple variation of KitKat, contains sub-par quality chocolate, and far too little wafer. Beware this impostor. If you have any concerns regarding counterfeit KitKats, please contact FAKT – the Federation Against KitKat Theft.