TOKYO, Japan -- In the United States, we’re used to the typical milk chocolate Kit Kat bar. But in Japan, the flavor choices are vast and often an attraction to American tourists.
“They’re like, 'we want to get Kit Kats,' I’m like 'OK,'” said one American tourist at the Kit Kat counter inside the Daimaru department store in Tokyo.
A Kit Kat counter inside the Daimaru department store is a sweet symbol of the candy craze across Japan.
“Which flavors are you wanting to buy that you can’t get in the US?” asked Denver7 reporter Marc Stewart. “All of them! There’s the Sakura, the Cherry Blossom one,” said another tourist.
Among the flavors hard to find outside of Asia:
- Apple
- Strawberry
- Sake
- Butter
- Wasabi
The varieties are a reflection of Japan – often highlighting a specialty of each region, including sweet potato from Okinawa.
Not all of the taste comes from the layers inside. One variety has almonds and cranberries on top.
The number of different flavors is vast.
“At the moment [we have] between 60 or 70, we’ve been developing or sold close to 300 by now,” said Cedric Lacroix of Nestle Japan.
Kit Kat isn’t just about candy. There’s a spiritual side too.
“Kitto Kattsu stands for "you (will) surely win" in (a) Japanese dialect, and has always stands [sic] as a lucky charm for consumer,” said Lacroix.