When it comes to cooking, easy recipes, and delightful treats, Kit Kat has long been a beloved chocolate wafer bar worldwide. But did you know that since its introduction in 1935 as Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp, Kit Kat has evolved into a global sensation with over 300 different flavors, especially in Japan? This article dives into an exciting tasting adventure of 33 distinct Kit Kat varieties, exploring everything from classic sizes to exotic regional flavors, and even some wild experimental editions.
Kit Kat’s Rich History and Cultural Significance
First launched in 1935 as Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp, the Kit Kat name officially changed in 1937 to Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp. The brand’s expansion into Japan in the 1970s sparked a fascinating cultural phenomenon. Japan now boasts over 300 regional Kit Kat flavors, often gifted as tokens of good luck. The name “Kit Kat” sounds similar to the Japanese word Kitokatsu, meaning “surely win” or “definitely succeed.” This has turned Kit Kat bars into charming good luck talismans, especially popular among students taking important exams. Many small Kit Kats even have a space on the back to write personalized wishes of success.
Interestingly, this linguistic coincidence is the opposite of the infamous Chevy Nova case, where the car’s name meant “no go” in Spanish, an unfortunate branding choice for the Mexican market.
Exploring the Original and Classic Kit Kat Sizes
The tasting journey begins with the iconic original mini Kit Kat. Despite its small size, it comes with surprisingly detailed instructions on how to open the wrapper, including “lift flap and tear at end” in all caps, emphasizing the “right way” to enjoy the bar. Curiously, the ends of the wrapper also have dents designed for easy tearing, which contradicts the instructions—raising the playful question: do you prefer to open your Kit Kat the right way or the wrong way?
One notable observation is the slightly higher chocolate-to-wafer ratio on these mini bars, which does enhance the experience, earning them a solid score of 7.1 out of 10 in this tasting.
Moving on to the regular and king-sized Kit Kats, it’s fascinating to see the calorie labeling differences: the king-size package lists 210 calories per bar, while the regular shows 160 calories per serving, which might subconsciously encourage overeating. Moreover, a surprising discovery was made about the packaging — the king-size bars have a space between “Kit” and “Kat” on the logo, while the regular bars keep it as one word. This was confirmed by Hershey’s customer service, revealing that the space is size-dependent and not a sign of counterfeit bars.
Diving into White Chocolate and Vanilla Variants
The white Kit Kat, humorously named “Kit Kat White,” was met with mixed feelings. It contains only 2% or less actual chocolate and tastes quite nondescript — more like “white” rather than true white chocolate, scoring a modest 5. The vanilla Kit Kat, in contrast, contains artificial vanilla flavor and tastes more like a vanilla wafer, which some might find preferable, earning a 6.
Both bars presented the ongoing logo dilemma: the bar itself had a space between “Kit” and “Kat,” but the packaging did not, adding to the quirky inconsistencies across Kit Kat products.
Unique and Specialty Flavors from Japan
Japan’s Kit Kat flavors provide a treasure trove of surprises. Among the special editions sampled were:
- Chocolate Frosted Donut: A two-tone bar that smells chocolatey with a strong artificial flavor, scoring a 6.
- Apple Pie: A bizarre flavor that tastes more like an apple pie scented candle than the dessert itself, complete with cinnamon and tart notes. This unusual candle-like flavor earned a quirky 5.
- Matcha Variants: Multiple matcha (green tea) flavored Kit Kats were tasted, ranging from chocolate matcha blends to pure matcha and matcha latte styles. While matcha is beloved on its own, the combination with chocolate was divisive, with scores mainly between 4 and 6 due to the grassy, seaweed-like undertones.
- Mont Blanc: Inspired by the French mountain and chestnut dessert, this flavor contains a trace of alcohol and delivers a delightful vanilla and chestnut taste, rated a 7.
- Dark Chocolate Variants: “Adult sweetness” Kit Kats with darker chocolate were a hit, especially one that tasted like Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate, scoring up to 9. A stronger dark chocolate version was also enjoyed but rated slightly lower due to its less melt-in-the-mouth texture.
- Golden Caramel: A caramel-flavored chocolate bar with a sweet, slightly artificial caramel reminiscent of popular coffee shop syrups, scoring an 8.
- Whole Wheat Kit Kat: A peculiar cereal-like bar with a wheat sprig on the logo, tasting more like cereal than chocolate and scoring a low 3 due to its odd flavor.
Fruity and Dessert-Inspired Flavors
Strawberry-themed Kit Kats were a highlight, offering a range of flavors from Hello Kitty-branded strawberry candy bars to strawberry shortcake and strawberry chocolate cake variants. The strawberry chocolate cake stood out as the star of the day, with a perfect balance of rich Japanese chocolate and subtle strawberry notes, earning a perfect 10.
Other dessert-inspired flavors included:
- Milk Tea: A tea-infused Kit Kat that tastes like a palate-cleansing Earl Grey, ideal for breakfast, scoring a 7.
- Cookies and Cream: A white chocolate bar speckled with black cookie bits, delivering a classic and well-executed flavor, scoring an 8.
- Chocolate Orange: A bar with a strong orange essence that some found overpowering, though still enjoyable, scoring around 7-8.
Experimental Takes: Ice Cream Cones and Cereal
Some of the more adventurous Kit Kat products included ice cream cone-inspired bars and Kit Kat cereal. The ice cream cones, one with a fudge core and one chocolate only, lacked the signature Kit Kat wafer texture and flavor, tasting more like plain ice cream cones and earning scores of 5 and 6.
The Kit Kat cereal was a puffy wheat-flavored cereal without any chocolate taste. While it was passable as a cereal, it was a disappointment for those expecting the classic Kit Kat flavor, scoring a 5.
Final Thoughts on a Flavorful Journey
After sampling 33 unique Kit Kat flavors, it’s clear that when you create hundreds of variations, some will be hits, and others… not so much. From candle-scented apple pie to the perfect strawberry chocolate cake, Kit Kat offers a world of taste experiences. The strawberry chocolate cake flavor emerged as the ultimate favorite—a nearly perfect blend of chocolate and fruit.
While some experimental flavors like ice cream cones and cereals stray far from the classic wafer bar roots, others like the dark chocolate and Mont Blanc variations show how versatile and creative Kit Kat can be.
For fans of cooking, easy recipes, and adventurous treats, exploring Kit Kat flavors is a delightful way to add some fun and flavor to your snack time. Whether you prefer classic chocolate or want to try something wild like matcha latte or golden caramel, there’s a Kit Kat for everyone.
What flavor would you try next? Share your favorites and discoveries in the comments below!
This article was created from the video I Tried Every Kit Kat with the help of AI.
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