Taste Test: Kyoto Matcha Kit Kats

I’ve been meaning to do a post about these ever since a friend of mine brought me a pack back from Japan, but the truth is, I’m not really sure what to say for a Kit Kat taste test. I know, have some matcha flavored Kit Kats!

What exactly is matcha flavor? Basically it’s a fancy name for the fine green tea powder that is traditionally used in tea ceremonies. In recent years, however, it’s also come to be used in all manner of sweet treats, including those delicious green tea lattes you know from your local Starbucks!

These matcha Kit Kats are a little special in that they feature Kyoto-specific packaging. Each major city in Japan has their own regional Kit Kat flavor, and sometimes even multiple flavors, depending on the season. Why don’t other countries do that?!

Now the box may be fine and dandy, but what about what’s inside?

Individually-wrapped Kit Kats, of course! Though you can find bars on store shelves in Japan, boxes containing multiple “snack” sizes are generally more popular.

Look at that lovely shade of green! Yummy! I’m getting hungry just looking at it. 
Taste-wise, these Kyoto matcha Kit Kats are pretty much what you’d expect if you’ve ever had any green tea-flavored concoction. If you’ve only ever had a cup of green tea, imagine something a tad more robust in flavor (But seriously, go out and get a green tea latte right away! They’re delicious). Straight up matcha is actually quite bitter, but luckily matcha flavored desserts have the added sweetness in them to balance it out. In the case of these Kit Kats, it really is quite lovely, and surprisingly refreshing for a chocolate wafer treat!
I’m under the impression that standard green tea-flavored Kit Kats are available in many places outside of Japan, so try checking you local Asian grocer to see if you can find some. Who knows what other wacky flavors you might find!

About Anne

Also known as apricotsushi. Anne can be written with the kanji for apricot (杏), and sushi was the most quintessentially Japanese thing I could think of when I was 13, resulting in my goofy, albeit memorable, nickname.

7 thoughts on “Taste Test: Kyoto Matcha Kit Kats”

  1. I love it! Is it wrong that if I ever go to Japan (and I will!!), one of the many things on my “to do” list will be to find as many different kinds of Kit Kat flavors as I can? Yes, I’m weird like that.

    I’ve never had a green tea latte from Starbucks, by the way, so I guess I’ll have to try one soon…

  2. Bryan – Not wrong at all! I always make it my personal mission to try as many flavors of Kit Kats as humanly possible when in Japan. My favorite whacky ones have been ginger ale, jasmine tea, and pudding flavor! Oh, and I can’t forget the sports drink-flavored ones. I hope your dream comes true sooner rather than later and that you blog all about it 😉

    You should definitely try one if you’re into that sort of thing! I think the one I’m referring to might be a frappuchino, actually… Anyway, they’re quite good, and pretty much taste exactly like these Kit Kats!

  3. Guh, I love Matcha. My friends got me onto it (as well as red bean) and now I can’t get enough of it.

    I’m especially attracted to Matcha because it was explained to me originally as “an Asian secret” :p

  5. Alois – Wow, it’d be pretty hard to pass up anything described as an “Asian secret”! And man, I love red bean too! Give me anything red bean flavored!

  6. Matt – Oh dear, I know what you mean! Japan is a deadly trap full of tasty sweets just waiting to add extra kilos to our waistlines 😐 But Kit Kats in particular are just so delicious, I almost don’t mind

  7. Anne: There are ginger ale-flavored Kit Kats in Japan? I don’t know why, but I want to try them 🙂

    BTW, I think I’ll have to bring some of these home with me when I finally go to Japan — you know, so I can mix them into ice cream. (I love Kit Kat Blizzards from Dairy Queen.)

    Anyway, yes, I hope I can drag the hubs to Japan soon, Anne. It’ll probably be a couple of years, though, since I think we’re planning to go to Australia (!!) or travel Europe first.

    BTW, I’d looooooove to try red bean Kit Kats, too 🙂

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