Okay, So I Lied...

THIS, my friends, is the LAST of the Japanese Kit Kat posts! A nice little send-off and perfect finale to the series from Narita airport:

We're officially back in the land of only two Kit Kat flavors, and are loving every sleep-deprived minute of it!

Kicking the Kit Kat Habit

Yup, we're heading out of this wonderful land of novelties this week, and that means saying good-bye to one of my favorite pastimes here: hunting down crazy, colorful Kit Kat flavors! So, in the spirit of all the zany Kit Kats I've encountered during our three years in Japan, here is our last Kit Kat post!

First on the list is definitely the most meaningful Kit Kat as 10 yen from every box sold is going to help those affected by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami (the front top of the box says "Let's Help Tohoku"). The flavor is Zunda, a sweet soybean powder that is served on top of mochi, and which was the special regional flavor last year of Miyagi prefecture, one of the worst affected prefectures in the disaster:

Next, who doesn't love ANYTHING that is tiramisu flavored?

There seems to be a newly designed package containing petit Kit Kats...I've found two of this flavors so far, Strawberry Hazlenut...

...and Cookies & Cream:

And finally, a music edition cherry flavor that tastes more like a light cherry cheesecake:

I'm sure going to miss combing the 7-Elevens, Don Quixote, and our Big House grocery store for the latest in Kit Kat Kreations (too much with the K-thing?), but I will rest assured knowing that I can get all the Japanese Kit Kat fix I need by heading over to the Kit Kat Breaktown site (highly entertaining, actually...click on the building on the top left-hand corner to check out all of Japan's special regional Kit Kat flavors)! Oh, Nestle Japan and your brilliant marketing strategies! Gets me every time...

Kolossal Kit Kat Explosion

This was a post that was supposed to happen last fall, and then again this past winter. Now it's summer and the empty Kit Kat boxes have piled up, waiting for their debut on the ol' blog. There's a lot of them here sure to tantalize your taste buds, folks (for a blast to the past of our other crazy Japanese Kit Kat reviews, head here).

First up in the flavor fiesta is a special edition from the southern islands of Okinawa where the local beni-imo, or purple potato, is extremely popular in foods, drinks, and of course, Kit Kats:

I always wondered when Nestle was gonna get really creative. Here it seems they've done it with a flavor combo pack--cola and Lemon Squash (a softdrink here):

We picked this limited edition from Shikoku (one of Japan's main islands) up on our trip to Hiroshima and it is a delicious citrus blend:

Shhh, don't tell the kiddos, but this is Adult Flavor (meaning dark chocolate):

Bitter Almond, sponsored by the Tokyo Beauty Clinic:

Also from Tokyo Beauty Clinic, Aloe Yogurt:

Hojicha, or roasted Japanese green tea:

Ramune, a type of soda here that comes with a marble in it (??)...usually lemon-lime flavored:

You may think this is a standard package of Kit Kats overly packaged in excessive plastic:

...but this edition comes with a pack of Nescafe and a handy mug to beat the afternoon slump:

Onto more crazy flavors! Kinako, or roasted soybean powder:

Ginger ale:

Matcha, or thick Japanese green tea:

Kinako Ohagi, a type of dessert in Japan which consists of sweet, red adzuki beans stuffed inside a pounded rice cake (mochi), and then rolled in powdered, toasted soybeans:

"Kuchi" (mouth) "doke" (melt) chocolate almond:

Milk coffee spring edition:

The über Japanese flavor of them all, wasabi:

And finally, replacing the limited edition Hokkaido flavors of roasted sweet corn and buttered potato, the new Hokkaido edition of Yubari Melon (which is our fancy name here for cantaloupe):

The extra-large gift box is even ready for mailing as is:

Hungry yet? I hope so, because it seems that Nestle has been lagging in the Kit Kat flavor department since about early spring! Hoping for at least one last flavor post before we shove off in August!

Mid-Winter (Almost Spring?) Kit Kat Attack

As students are going through their entrance (and exit) exams here in Japan, Kit Kat has stepped it up a notch with the whole "Give a Kit Kat for good luck" campaign. As you may or may not remember from my first post on Kit Kats, the candy title is similar to the Japanese phrase, "Kitto Katsu," which pretty much translates to "You will surely win" (basically, "good luck"). So with spring hopefully around the corner here in Hokkaido (as I type this, I'm staring outside at a horizontal snow blizzard), here are a few flavors to get you in a successful mood!

First up, Royal Milk Tea which, despite the British decor, probably doesn't really exist anywhere else besides Japan. Royal milk tea is actually quite a lovely, sweet drink that's found in most of the vending machines and convenience stores here. The Kit Kat version is very similar in flavor, and just as sweet and tasty:

A flavor found in the stores a few weeks ago: dark chocolate banana...fondue, anyone?

And a larger variety known as Cookie Plus...a regular Kit Kat pumped up with a vanilla sandwich cookie filling:

Making me even more excited for yet another Japanese summertime staple are the roasted sweet potato Kit Kats! Slightly sweet and with a really nice flavor, these are one of the more unusual flavors! When the weather is nice, you can see roasted sweet potato carts all over the place, beckoning with their luscious smells:

In a country where a small bottle of real Canadian maple syrup can cost $10.00-$15.00USD, it's nice to know that our cravings can be satisfied in a crunchy Kit Kat instead:

And another variation of the banana flavor can be found in the large Kit Kat bar. This time with white chocolate instead:

Finally, a sign that (surely) spring is well on its way: Sakura Matcha (Cherry Blossom Green Tea) flavor is now sitting on the shelves! I'm a sucker for anything cherry blossom flavored (which happen to be A LOT of things here in Japan during this time of year), and the Sakura Matcha Kit Kats don't disappoint! Actually, they kind of taste a bit like Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal...strange, I know, but tasty nevertheless:

My Kit Kat posts can now be found in their own little archive! Check them out on the sidebar of this blog and happy (preemptive) Spring, everyone!

World O' Kit Kats

Last spring, I posted about the crazy flavor-phenomenon of Kit Kats here in Japan (you can also see my subsequent flavor reviews here and here), and let me tell you folks, the flavors keep a rollin' on out! It's been awhile since I've given a Kit Kat flavor update, but luckily for you (and to the slight dismay of my husband), my collection (hoarding?) keeps on growing. Just a few of the recent flavors:

Sports Drink flavor...tasted vaguely like Pocari Sweat.

Modeled after a popular Apple and Carrot Juice Drink here in Japan, this flavor is pretty addictive!

Hokkaido Azuki (Sweet) Beans...light, sweet, and tastes like cake (you know, of the sweet bean variety)!

One of the first I've had in the new "Calorie-Control Series," Apple Cider Vinegar!  Imagine delicious apple pie flavor in your mouth...yummers!

Umesho (Japanese Plum Wine) is also in the Calorie Control Series...amazing!

A Special Edition from Tokyo (can only be found there):  Soy Sauce!!  I know what you're thinking, but these taste just like wedding cake and are perhaps one of my most favorite flavors!

A Hokkaido Special Edition flavor (can only be found here):  Roasted Sweet Corn!   Love it! 

A bit of a bizarre flavor, Chocolate and Rose!  It was kind of like eating perfume...

Imagine my disappointment when, after purchasing what I believed to be a new Kit Kat Drink from the vending machine, I actually got regular mini Kit Kats in a glass jar!  They were caramel custard flavor though, so not a total loss!

Can't wait to see what fall and winter have in store for us in the kooky world of Japanese Kit Kats!

Golden Week Japan Part III: Sapporo

Back from a whirlwind Tokyo/Kyoto travel high, we were welcomed back home to Sapporo by glorious spring weather, (almost) empty wallets, and only four days left of Carissa's visit to Japan.

Her first night here, we were invited over to our favorite neighbors/boss's house for an AMAZING (as usual) feast of non-Japanese proportions cooked by Takeuchi san...

...before heading downtown to see our favorite chef/bartender hard at work:

A trip to Sapporo isn't complete without a visit to our favorite hole-in-the-wall yakiniku joint! Yakiniku means grilled meat, and usually consists of a grill-it-yourself BBQ style meal:

On Thursday, it was back to work for me, and I had the perfect show-and-tell item for my classes...no, not Carissa, but instead a luscious bottle of Kansas City BBQ sauce! Just look at it in all of its glory:

And Friday became Crystal Family Day at S.I.T. as both Carissa AND Jacob came to four of my classes!

The weekend was spent cramming in some last minute Japanese and Sapporo culture such as our fabulous cherry blossom viewing and party, keitan (conveyor belt) sushi, bicycle rides, the magical-mystery of the ¥100 shop, AAAAAAAAND, sampling some new and crazy Kit Kat flavors, including (but certainly not limited to):

Edamame (soybean) flavored...DELICIOUS!!!

Followed by a little espresso for dessert:

And onto the horrendous citrus-chili pepper-macha-chocolate concoction:

Before finishing with a sample of the special Hokkaido baked potato goodness...AWESOME!

I had a ton of fun running around Japan with my little sis...thanks Carissa and we hope to see you next year!

Sooooo, one overseas visitor down, about 100 more to go! Who's next, I ask!! Who's next? We're waiting for you...