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Nestle Japan – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:00:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 Nestle Japan – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 Japan’s Valentine’s Day gets extra cute with the return of KitKat Heartful Bear【Photos】 https://soranews24.com/2026/01/09/japans-valentines-day-gets-extra-cute-with-the-return-of-kitkat-heartful-bear%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2026/01/09/japans-valentines-day-gets-extra-cute-with-the-return-of-kitkat-heartful-bear%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:00:16 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=723890
This year, KitKat is bringing everyday goods like pouches, tumblers, and towels to make the holiday feel much more adorable.

Valentine’s Day in Japan has long been synonymous with the exchange of chocolate, usually from girls to boys. However, a returning collaboration between Japanese lifestyle brand Afternoon Tea Living and Nestle’s adorable KitKat Heartful Bear is seeking to add a lineup of cute gifts to give to your romantic interest, or keep for yourself.

The Heartful Bear is a bear-shaped version of a KitKat that appears only during the Valentine’s season, with its rounded shape, sweet expression, and colorful packaging making it a favorite for sharing with friends or as an easy go-to gift. On the front of each individually wrapped piece is one of three messages: “Thx!”, “For U”, or “I♡U”, and the back features a space for a handwritten message.

After a successful collaboration last year, this year’s theme of “Let’s go out together with KitKat Heartful Bear,” expands the charm of Heartful Bear beyond chocolate, featuring items you will want to carry every day, including handkerchiefs, pass cases, and pouches. Starting on January 13, 2026, this limited-time collection will roll out at Afternoon Tea Living stores across Japan (with the exception of the Machida Tokyu Twins location), as well as the brand’s official online shop.

▼ Eight-piece KitKat Heartful Bear Box (1,080 yen [US$6.90]), Six-piece KitKat Heartful Bear (540 yen), and Six-piece KitKat Heartful Bear Bear Tin (1,620 yen)

▼ Eight-piece KitKat Heartful Bear Box (1,080 yen) and plush toy (4,950 yen)

▼ Two-piece Package Pouch Set (2,640 yen), Mini Flat Pouch (2,200 yen), Jacquard Mini Towel (990 yen), and Smartphone Sticker Set (1,100 yen)

▼ Six-piece KitKat Heartful Bear Bear Tin (1,620 yen), Stainless Steel Tumbler (3,300 yen), and Mirror Comb Charm (1,650 yen)

▼ Shopping Bag with Pouch (2,750 yen each)

▼ Smartphone Grip (1,980 yen), Mirror Comb Charm (1,650 yen), and Reel-equipped Pass Case (2,970 yen)

▼ Microwave Tray (1,980 yen), Cake Plate (1,540 yen each), Teaspoon (990 yen), Cake Fork (990 yen), Eight-piece KitKat Heartful Bear Box (1,080 yen)

Whether you’re buying for someone special, stocking up on adorable everyday items, or just looking to make February a little more cheerful, these products let Heartful Bear’s cuteness shine, brightening everyday life for whoever ends up receiving them.

Related: Afternoon Tea online store, store locations
Source, images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2026/01/09/japans-valentines-day-gets-extra-cute-with-the-return-of-kitkat-heartful-bear%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 723890 main New Doughnut KitKat captures the flavour of a Japanese castle town https://soranews24.com/2022/02/24/new-doughnut-kitkat-captures-the-flavour-of-a-japanese-castle-town/ https://soranews24.com/2022/02/24/new-doughnut-kitkat-captures-the-flavour-of-a-japanese-castle-town/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2022 14:00:05 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=578491

Regional-exclusive chocolate aims to raise funds for damaged samurai fortress.

It’s been a relatively quiet year in terms of new regional-exclusive KitKats in Japan, with Nestlé funnelling its creative energy into Graham crackers and Valentine’s Day bears.

That’s all set to change next month, though, as a new regional KitKat has just been announced, with an all-new flavour designed to take our taste buds on a trip to Kumamoto Prefecture.

Called the Kokuto Doughnut Flavour KitKat, the exclusive specialty has been created in collaboration with Fuji Bambi, a confectionery store in Kumamoto that’s famous for kokuto doughnut sticks.

▼ Fuji Bambi’s kokuto doughnut sticks are a must-eat Kumamoto sweet.

Fuji Bambi sources its kokuto (unrefined brown sugar that translates as “black sugar”) from Okinawa, which is renowned for its high-quality sugar cane production. The company is particular about where it sources all its ingredients, including flour and oil, as it’s part of their secret to creating a doughnut stick that’s less oily than regular doughnuts.

The Okinawan kokuto, which naturally contains important minerals like iron, soaks into the doughnut, creating an exquisite texture and a sweetness that spreads gently on the palate.

To transform the doughnut sticks into KitKat form, Fuji Bambi and Nestlé created a kokuto paste and blended it with white chocolate before sandwiching it in between layers of wafers to mimic the dough-and-brown-sugar combination of the kokuto doughnut sticks.

As a proud local business, Fuji Bambi has been supporting Kumamoto Castle in its recovery efforts ever since 2016, when two massive earthquakes caused extensive damage to the centuries-old fortress.

▼ A portion of sales from specially marked packs like these, featuring local mascot Kumamon, have so far generated millions of yen in donations.

Fuji Bambi’s latest venture with Nestlé will continue to support the castle, as a portion of sales from these KitKats will go towards its restoration.

It’s not the first time for a portion of KitKat sales to be donated to a good cause, as the Kit Kats below were also created to generate donations for recovery in disaster areas.

▼ Some of these releases include the 2016 Kumamoto Tea KitKat, the 2017 Yoghurt KitKat, the 2018 Ikinari Dango KitKat, and the 2018 Momiji KitKat.

The new KitKats will be sold in a nine-piece box for 864 yen (US$7.53) from 1 March at souvenir shops around Kyushu, although they’ll be mainly sold in and around Kumamoto Station.

Incidentally, all of KitKat’s regional-exclusive releases underwent a package redesign in October last year, so they’re now sold in vertical boxes. They’re also said to be slightly cheaper and the bars inside slightly larger.

So welcome to the regional-exclusive KitKat club, Kokuto Doughnut! We’re happy you’re here and we look forward to trying you, especially if it’ll help to preserve an important part of Japanese history!

Source, images: Press release
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2022/02/24/new-doughnut-kitkat-captures-the-flavour-of-a-japanese-castle-town/feed/ 0 578491 Japanese KitKat new doughnut flavour regional local exclusive Kumamoto Castle Kyushu chocolate souvenirs shop buy photos 1 Japanese KitKat Bears debut exclusively in Japan, but are they any good? https://soranews24.com/2022/01/29/japanese-kitkat-bears-debut-exclusively-in-japan-but-are-they-any-good/ https://soranews24.com/2022/01/29/japanese-kitkat-bears-debut-exclusively-in-japan-but-are-they-any-good/#comments Sat, 29 Jan 2022 03:00:48 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=575169

Join us as we break into this limited-edition box of Valentine’s Day chocolates.

Just last week, we heard Japan would be getting a brand-new KitKat unavailable anywhere else in the world. So as soon as they went on sale at 10:00 a.m. Japan time on 24 January, we were ready and poised to snap up a box online.

It’s lucky we made our purchase as soon as sales began because the boxes sold out online soon afterwards, and now they’re becoming even more sought-after than they were before.

▼ The new KitKat everyone wants to get their hands on is the Heartful Bear.

This box of six chocolates cost us 498 yen (US$4.32) plus postage, and according to Nestlé, they’re only being sold for a limited time to coincide with Valentine’s Day, which is a major chocolate holiday in Japan.

The box is covered in love hearts and even has the word “Love” across it, so it reads as both “Have a KitKat” and “Love a KitKat” at the same time.

This is the first time for Japan to receive a KitKat that’s not shaped like a long wafer or bite-sized ball, and the character they’ve gone with for this special debut moment is a sweet teddy bear.

▼ “Lovely milk chocolate wafer in the centre” is exactly how we like our bears.

Peering inside the box reveals even more love hearts to make the object of your affections feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

The chocolates are all individually packaged, and each one is about the length of a finger and the width of two.

Every teddy bear comes with “KitKat” stamped on its feet and a heart-shaped ballon above its head that’s been stamped with one of three messages: “I ♡ U“, “For U” or “Thx!”

▼ Surprisingly, our box was filled almost entirely with love, with no messages of thanks and just one “For U”

You’d think these messages of love from the adorable bears would make us feel bad about eating them, but no — no, they didn’t. Instead, they made us even more curious to find out what they had waiting for us inside.

▼ Taking out a sharp knife, we sliced into a balloon heart and found…a classic KitKat wafer!

These teddy bears were beautifully moulded, and the chocolate gave way with a satisfying snap under the knife.

There was no skimping on the wafer here, as it stretched all the way through the chocolate from tip to toe, or should we say, tip to buttock.

We popped the bear’s head into our mouth, and were immediately surprised by the quality of the chocolate. For some reason, character chocolates like this often make us think they’re made with lesser quality chocolate, but that definitely wasn’t the case here.

▼ The wafer was fresh and crunchy, while the chocolate was dark, bitter and irresistibly smooth.

In fact, the Heartful Bear seemed even better than a regular chocolate Kit Kat. We figured this was because there appeared to be more chocolate wrapped around the wafer than a usual bar, which allowed us to really enjoy the taste of the chocolate, while the wafer played a more subtle melody in the background.

It’s a KitKat we’d definitely buy again without hesitation, so it’s a shame the Heartful Bear is only available for a limited time. Still, now that the character KitKat has made its debut here, we can’t wait to see if there’ll be more cute characters coming our way in future.

With so many unusual KitKat flavours here in Japan, imagine if we could get an edamame milkshake KitKat shaped like a real edamame? Or an aged whisky barrel KitKat in the shape of a barrel? If you’re reading this, Nestlé, please — make it happen!

Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2022/01/29/japanese-kitkat-bears-debut-exclusively-in-japan-but-are-they-any-good/feed/ 0 575169 Japanese KitKat heartful bear flavour weird unusual exclusive chocolate limited edition Valentines Day cute souvenirs gifts photos taste test review top New Japanese KitKat is…a Heartful Bear! https://soranews24.com/2022/01/20/new-japanese-kitkat-is-a-heartful-bear/ https://soranews24.com/2022/01/20/new-japanese-kitkat-is-a-heartful-bear/#comments Thu, 20 Jan 2022 05:00:03 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=574005

Japan-exclusive chocolate comes with special messages for Valentine’s Day.

Japanese KitKats are famous around the world for their wide range of weird and wonderful flavours. Now, though, Nestlé is transforming its chocolate-covered wafer treats by moulding them into different shapes, creating a whole new type of KitKat the world has never seen before.

According to the company, these new “character-type” KitKats, developed for seasonal holidays like Christmas and Easter, have been making their way to 40 countries. The Christmas collection (pictured above) went on sale in places like Europe, Australia, Central America, and China in 2019, while the Easter bunny (below) was also available from 2019 in similar regions.

The Halloween KitKats (below) became available in 2021, only in Scandinavia, Holland, Switzerland, Spain and Canada.

Japan has been noticeably absent from the KitKat character craze, but that’s all set to change this month, as Nestlé is releasing a special character limited for sale only in Japan.

▼ Say hello to the Heartful Bear.

This Japan-exclusive KitKat features a cute teddy bear with “KitKat” stamped on its feet and a heart-shaped ballon above its head that’s been stamped with one of three messages: “I ♡ U“, “For U” or “Thx!”

The Heartful Bear, which has been developed for Valentine’s Day, a big chocolate-giving event in Japan, will be sold on its own for 84 yen (US$0.73), only at Family Mart convenience stores, or in a bag of six for 498 yen, exclusively at Plaza and Loft stores.

Boxes of six, also priced at 498 yen, will be sold online at Nestlé, Amazon and Rakuten, and at KitKat Chocolatory stores and other stores like gift shops.

The KitKat Heartful Bear is only being made in limited numbers and for a limited time from 24 January, which is when we’ll be picking one up for a taste test, so watch this space!

Source, images: Press release
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2022/01/20/new-japanese-kitkat-is-a-heartful-bear/feed/ 0 574005 Japanese KitKat heartful bear character new Valentines Day limited edition cute flavour photos sweets chocolate 1 Some Japanese KitKats just got bigger… but still the same size they were a year ago https://soranews24.com/2021/09/27/some-japanese-kitkats-just-got-bigger-but-still-the-same-size-they-were-a-year-ago/ https://soranews24.com/2021/09/27/some-japanese-kitkats-just-got-bigger-but-still-the-same-size-they-were-a-year-ago/#comments Sun, 26 Sep 2021 17:30:54 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=558417

Size is relative.

Good news out of the Nestlé Japan camp: due to popular demand they have revised their line of “mini” sized bars to be about 17 percent larger. The changes went into effect on 13 September and affect the mini-sized Regular, Adult Sweetness, Adult Sweetness Rich Green Tea, and new Graham Cracker flavors.

▼ Boy band J01 will be serving as ambassadors from the monumental change.

Also, as a part of the changes bags of mini-sized KitKats will contain one less bar, but Nestlé assures us that it is still a net positive. For example, one mini original KitKat used to weigh 9.9 grams (0.35 ounces) but now weigh 11.6 grams (0.41 ounces). Crunching the numbers, that means that the previous 15-bar bag of 9.9-gram bars weighed 148.5 grams (5.24 ounces), but the new 14-bar bag of 11.6-gram bars works out to 162.4 grams (5.73 ounces) for a net increase of about nine percent.

So as we can see… wait a minute. “11.6 grams” and “14 bars?” This is all sounding really familiar.

That probably because almost exactly a year ago to the day, Nestlé reduced the size of mini KitKats from 11.6 grams for 9.9 grams, but added an extra bar to each bag.

Probably because this previous change happened so recently, it was still fresh in the minds of many netizens who called Nestle out on the flip-flop.

“But it’s just going back to normal.”
“Didn’t they reduce the size just a little while ago?”
“But is the price the same?”
“Small, big, small, big, it’s a vicious cycle.”
“They could even boast that even though it’s the same amount, it was a 15-percent decrease last year, but a 17-percent increase this year.”
“Maybe for their next update, they’ll change the dimensions just to screw with us.”
“This might lead to wrist injuries though. They should be careful.”
“Wait, wasn’t the reduction size because customers were worried about calories?”

Indeed, last year a Nestlé rep said that the shrinkage was due to feedback from customers who were worried about their calorie intake. There was no mention of calories at all in the press release for this size increase, but Nestle said that the change was simply an effort to keep up with preferences.

▼ There’s also a campaign where registering receipts from the purchase of two bags can win lucky customers a J01 gift card for 1,000 yen ($9).

There’s no word on how it will affect the price since that is largely decided by individual retailers. It’s also interesting to note the not all the flavors affected by the shrinkage last year were subject to the enlargement this year. Adult Sweetness Strawberry and Adult Sweetness Oolong Tea were among the varieties that saw a reduction but no regrowth, suggesting that perhaps Nestlé is paying careful attention to the specific concerns of each flavor’s customer base.

▼ Adult Sweetness Rich Green Tea was enlarged, whereas Adult Sweetness Green Tea was not. Interesting.

However, that’s all just speculation. Nestlé would probably do well to follow the example of takoyaki shop owner Junya Hashimoto and be completely honest about why they’re making the change, even if it is slightly embarrassing. It’s a business model that works like magic in Japan.

Source: Nestlé Japan, KitKat, Itai News
Images: Nestlé Japan
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/09/27/some-japanese-kitkats-just-got-bigger-but-still-the-same-size-they-were-a-year-ago/feed/ 0 558417 New summer ice cream-flavored mini KitKats come with a serving of summer homework topics https://soranews24.com/2021/07/20/new-summer-ice-cream-flavored-mini-kitkats-come-with-a-serving-of-summer-homework-topics/ https://soranews24.com/2021/07/20/new-summer-ice-cream-flavored-mini-kitkats-come-with-a-serving-of-summer-homework-topics/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2021 05:00:58 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=549040

Japanese kids can exercise their mouths and minds by participating in a contest to brainstorm ideas about the future.

As July temperatures soar and the cicadas reach deafening levels in Japan, school is just about out for the summer. While schoolchildren can now look forward to just over a month of not being in class, they still can’t escape that ever-present summer homework looming over them. Thankfully, this year they can get some academic inspiration from the unlikeliest of places–KitKats.

A new flavor of mini KitKats dubbed “summer ice cream” went on sale across the country on July 12. The flavor is described as having cream powder sandwiched between the wafers which are in turn encased in white chocolate mixed with ice cream flavor and feuillantine (crushed crispy crêpes used to add some crunch). Small packages containing three bars can be found at convenience stores for 129 yen (US$1.20) while larger bags containing 12 bars can be found at supermarkets and drug stores for 540 yen.

▼ New “summer ice cream” KitKats

What makes these KitKats particularly unique, however, is that Nestlé Japan has partnered with Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo’s Odaiba district, to offer topics for independent research projects (a common summer vacation assignment for kids) on their packaging. The individual wrappers include a total of 30 open-ended questions focused on the future from six categories: outer space, food, global environment, the human body, living, and technology.

The following are some examples of the future-themed questions (one from each category):

What kind of sports would you want to play on the moon and on Mars?
What kind of school lunch do you think will be popular with children in the future?
What’s an example of a vehicle that could make the environment better the more it runs?
What will future clothes that protect our bodies be like?
What does a future photo album look like?
What kind of robot do you want to try living with?

▼ Sample individually wrapped KitKats with questions

The creators hope that these questions will spark exciting dialogues between kids and their families as well.

Furthermore, Nestlé Japan has also set up a dedicated website, which will be up for submissions between July 21-August 31, for anyone to submit their responses to the questions. Children can view others’ submissions and gain further inspiration.

▼ Select which question you want to answer on the website…

▼ …then submit your response to the prompt.

Once the submission period concludes, representatives from Nestlé Japan and Miraikan will judge the responses and present 10 winners with the Nestlé Japan Prize, which includes assorted Kit Kat goods and original merchandise, as well as the Miraikan Prize, which includes a set of the museum’s “Questions”-themed goods.

We find it somewhat amusing that the lineup of future-themed questions doesn’t include one question that’s probably on every kid’s mind: “Will children of the future still have summer vacation homework?” While only time will tell, perhaps they can take comfort from one high school teacher’s summer vacation assignment in the meantime.

Source: PR Times via Entabe
Images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/07/20/new-summer-ice-cream-flavored-mini-kitkats-come-with-a-serving-of-summer-homework-topics/feed/ 0 549040 7 We taste the new Japanese KitKat, aged in whisky barrels in Islay, Scotland https://soranews24.com/2021/01/14/we-taste-the-new-japanese-kitkat-aged-in-whisky-barrels-in-islay-scotland/ https://soranews24.com/2021/01/14/we-taste-the-new-japanese-kitkat-aged-in-whisky-barrels-in-islay-scotland/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:00:46 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=526338

Never before have we experienced a chocolate quite like this.

Japan is known for its unusual KitKats, many of which can’t be purchased anywhere else in the world. Their latest KitKat is one such creation, and it’s made all the more special as it uses chocolate made from cacao nibs aged in whisky barrels for 180 days.

Called Whisky Barrel Aged, the new KitKat has been created by master patissier Yasumasa Takagi, who’s been at the helm for a lot of the brand’s high-end releases, including Ruby and Volcanic Chocolate.

Sold exclusively at Japan’s KitKat Chocolatory boutiques, we were curious to find out more about this very special limited-edition product, so as soon as we got our hands on one of them, we took our time to enjoy every little detail, starting with its evocative packaging.

▼ The design is said to “express the gradual transition of amber whisky to cacao, giving a feeling of relaxation.”

The warm wood-and-chocolate tones extend to the shiny wrapping inside the box, which is cloaked around a single KitKat finger. Priced at 300 yen (US$2.88) each, plus tax, this is a luxury offering sold only in winter, due to the rarity of the cacao nibs sourced from Ghana, and a wealth of masterful attention to detail is evident in its creation.

According to Nestlé, the chocolate inside this shiny wrapping is made from cacao nibs that were stored in barrels on Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland renowned for its high-quality whisky. These barrels, once used for ageing the spirit, were manually rotated once a week for nearly half a year to ensure all the cacao nibs inside came into contact with the barrel, helping to gradually and evenly shift the aroma and taste of whisky throughout the nibs.

▼ The Islay barrels used for the new KitKat

Image: Nestlé press release

These barrels and the windswept coastal landscape of Islay were in our mind’s eye as we slowly unwrapped the luxury chocolate, and lo and behold, it looked like a regular KitKat from the outside.

▼ However, the aroma of whisky was undeniable, exciting our senses with a distinct smoky peatness.

Snapping the chocolate-covered wafer in half accentuated the smoky woody aromas, and when we bit into the bar, we found ourselves throwing everything we thought we knew about whisky and chocolate combinations out the window.

This was honestly like nothing we’d ever tasted before. We’ve had plenty of whisky chocolates in the past, where the alcoholic bite of whisky was clearly evident, but because this chocolate doesn’t actually contain any whisky, it tasted entirely different to an alcoholic chocolate.

Despite not containing any alcohol, the smoky, peaty flavour of a good Scotch whisky sang out on the palate, filling the nose with intense aromatics. Each bite delivered a wave of different notes, taking us through an initial floral layer before delivering a slight vanilla-tinged heat that came with an increasingly intense combination of wood, smoke, and peat, and finally finishing with a hint of sweet, salty sea air.

▼ If the flavour profile were a photo, it would look something like this, only with a chocolate river flowing alongside it.

Image: Nestlé press release

We were amazed at how much of the whisky flavour had permeated the chocolate merely through barrel-ageing the cacao nibs for a relatively short time. The different textures and components of the KitKat also proved to be the perfect way to deliver such a complex blend of flavours, as the smooth chocolate allowed the earthy woodiness of the whisky barrels to melt on the tongue, while the chewy wafer highlighted the floral, vanilla elements, working in harmony to create a stunning combination on the palate.

The Whisky Barrel Aged KitKat is an absolutely fantastic chocolate that allows you to enjoy the heady aromatics of a good whisky without the harsh throat-burning bite that usually accompanies it. This innovative new way of enjoying whisky through the ageing of cacao nibs is one we’d love to see more chocolatiers and whisky companies experiment with in future, because it truly opens up an exciting new world of flavours and possibilities.

And with Suntory whisky set to bring out a limited-edition Blosssom Harmony Hibiki whisky this year in homage to the country’s beloved cherry blossoms, we’re not ruling out the possibility of a Sakura Whisky KiKat appearing on the horizon soon. Fingers crossed, everyone!

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]]> https://soranews24.com/2021/01/14/we-taste-the-new-japanese-kitkat-aged-in-whisky-barrels-in-islay-scotland/feed/ 0 526338 L1500462a Shortage of chocolatey milk enhancer Milo has Japanese resellers licking their chops https://soranews24.com/2020/12/09/shortage-of-chocolatey-milk-enhancer-milo-has-japanese-resellers-licking-their-chops/ https://soranews24.com/2020/12/09/shortage-of-chocolatey-milk-enhancer-milo-has-japanese-resellers-licking-their-chops/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2020 10:30:58 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=525398

Truly the winter of our discontent.

Japan is no stranger to certain food shortages from time to time. Lapses in the butter supply seem to occur on a somewhat regular basis, but our current lack of the product Milo is sure to hit the sweet-teeth of Japan especially hard.

Milo is a blend of chocolate and malt fortified with nutrients, that mixes with hot or cold milk or water, comparable to Ovaltine in the western hemisphere. It’s especially loved in Japan, where its customer base has recently expanded more deeply into the adult demographic, thanks to recent social media buzz purporting its health benefits.

▼ Word of mouth proved to be an even more effective tool than Milo (36) Man Shake dance craze years ago

In fact, it was so successful that in September of this year, dealers and wholesalers ran out of the standard Milo Original 240-gram bags. Nestlé replenished the supply by mid-November, but ravenous, Milo-deprived milk-drinkers quickly consumed it, with estimates of Milo-demand up 700 percent from the previous year.

Now, Nestlé has had to announce that supply of Milo Original 700-gram and 240-gram bags as well as the Milo Original Stick Five-Packs will be suspended for the entire winter.

In other words, it’s all gone. We drank it all…

Nestlé says that the problem is securing more raw materials from Singapore to produce enough Milo. They expect production to be back in full swing sometime after March of 2021.

With news of such an insanely popular product going off the market for a long time, Japan’s notorious resellers have sprung into action, clearing remaining supplies from store shelves.

Flea market websites such as Mercari have also begun filling up with packs of Milo asking for increasingly exorbitant prices. As we journey deeper into the Milo-less winter, these prices will no doubt continue to rise leaving many without their daily fix of chocolate and malt.

Netizens are lamenting both not being able to drink Milo and/or not having been able to buy some themselves and turn a quick profit.

“I should have bought some…”
“My supermarket is completely out.”
“That was my daily treat…”
“How did it get so popular all of a sudden?”
“Wow. It’s delicious and good for you?”
“I’ve drunk it since I was a kid, but now it’s in the filthy hands of resellers.”
“I think Milo has become a unit of currency on Mercari.”
“The same fate awaits the Pizza Potato resellers.”

Although, many people would rather forget that dark period in Japanese history, the great Pizza Potato potato chip shortage of ’17 did end on a rather happy note. At its peak, resellers were attempting to sell single bags for upwards of US$100.

However, their producer Calbee issued a surprise announcement that production had resumed and almost instantly shelves were lined again. This turned the tables on resellers who were suddenly left with cases upon cases of Pizza Potato that they could no longer even sell at retail.

Nestlé certainly has the muscle to make such a thing happen too. So take heart, Milo fans in Japan! It will be a long hard winter, but Mercari may very well end up full of discounted brown powder before long.

Source: Oricon News, Hachima Kiko (1, 2)
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/12/09/shortage-of-chocolatey-milk-enhancer-milo-has-japanese-resellers-licking-their-chops/feed/ 0 525398 New winter-only Japanese KitKat flavour combines chocolate with a decadent sweet https://soranews24.com/2020/12/09/new-japanese-kitkat-is-a-luxury-sweet-only-available-in-winter/ https://soranews24.com/2020/12/09/new-japanese-kitkat-is-a-luxury-sweet-only-available-in-winter/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2020 01:00:50 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=525243

“A new way of enjoying cake” proposed by Japanese chocolatier.

In Japan, KitKats can be grouped into several categories. There are standard multipacks sold at supermarkets and convenience stores, regional-exclusive flavours sold at airports and tourist sites, and, for chocolate lovers with luxury in mind, high-end varieties sold at exclusive KitKat Chocolatory boutiques.

There are seven of these boutiques in Japan, making their limited-edition releases particularly sought after, and this winter they’ll be releasing a special winter-only flavour called Rich Cheesecake Taste.

This premium KitKat has been created under the full supervision of Japanese patissier Yasumasa Takagi, who’s been at the helm for a lot of exclusive releases at the Chocolatory, including Ruby and Volcanic Chocolate.

▼ Takagi has now developed a chocolate that represents “a new way of enjoying cheesecake“.

The new KitaKat combines cream cheese powder and a special cheesecake flavour with couverture white chocolate that melts on the tongue and has a milky taste. The smooth, melting sensation of the chocolate is said to provide a delightful textural contrast to the crispy KitKat wafers, while delivering the rich, slightly tart taste of premium cheesecake to the taste buds.

▼ The celebration of cacao and cheesecake continues on the package design.

The winter-only Rich Cheesecake Taste will be available for a limited time from 15 December at KitKat Chocolatory boutiques and online. Priced at 300 yen (US$2.88) plus tax, these luxury chocolates — said to be a league above other cheesecake varieties produced in the past — are going straight on our Christmas wishlist this year, alongside the new Japanese KitKats aged in Scottish whisky barrels.

Related: KitKat Chocolatory Store List
Source, images: Press Release
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/12/09/new-japanese-kitkat-is-a-luxury-sweet-only-available-in-winter/feed/ 0 525243 Japanese KitKat limited edition exclusive rare cheesecake Kit Kat chocolates buy shop Japan 5 New Japanese KitKat has been aged in whisky barrels from Islay, Scotland https://soranews24.com/2020/12/04/new-japanese-kitkat-has-been-aged-in-whisky-barrels-from-islay-scotland/ https://soranews24.com/2020/12/04/new-japanese-kitkat-has-been-aged-in-whisky-barrels-from-islay-scotland/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2020 03:00:42 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=524782

Blending the best of two worlds together for an unforgettable limited-edition KitKat.

In the land of unusual KitKats, it takes something really special to catch our eye, and Nestlé Japan has done just that with their brand new release, which has been aged in whisky barrels for 180 days.

Called Whisky Barrel Aged, the new chocolate comes to us from the high-end KitKat Chocolatory boutique, with supervision by the Willy Wonka of KitKats, renowned Japanese patissier Yasumasa Takagi.

▼ Takagi has been creating the crème de la crème of KitKats for Nestlé since 2003, overseeing exclusive releases like Ruby and Volcanic Chocolate.

The products sold at KitKat Chocolatery boutiques are known for being more upmarket and luxurious than their supermarket cousins, and this new KitKat promises to deliver an exquisite balance of flavours that will send whisky lovers into a tizzy.

The KitKat has been made with cacao nibs aged for 180 days in barrels once used for ageing whisky, and manually rotated once a week to ensure all the cacao nibs inside come into contact with the barrel.

▼ Rotating the barrels helps to gradually and evenly shift the aroma and taste of whisky throughout the nibs.

▼ The barrels used were from Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland that’s considered sacred ground for whisky.

The Islay barrels impart a wonderful and unique smoky peatness to the cacao, which come from Ghana and have a mellow taste that makes them ideal for blending with more complex flavours.

This combination creates a bitter chocolate that’s perfect for “adults who can enjoy the delicate aroma and taste of whisky“. The chocolate is said to display an excellent depth and richness, with a long and satisfying finish unlike any other on the market.

The new chocolate comes packaged in a box that’s designed to “express the gradual transition of amber whisky to cacao, giving a feeling of relaxation.”

Nestlé Japan says this is the first KitKat Chocolatory product produced overseas, with its country of origin labelled as the United Kingdom. It also uses rare cacao nibs, so it will be sold only in winter, with this year’s batch becoming available from 15 December at the seven Chocolatory boutiques across Japan.

Priced at 300 yen (US$2.88) each, plus tax, these will make a lovely gift for yourself or the whisky lover in your life. Personally, we can’t wait to pair them with this unusual Japanese red wine, which was aged in Mizunara oak barrels and made with grapes grown at the only train station platform vineyard in the country.

Source, images: Press Release
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/12/04/new-japanese-kitkat-has-been-aged-in-whisky-barrels-from-islay-scotland/feed/ 0 524782 Japanese KitKat whisky barrel aged Kit Kat Chocolatory Japan new limited edition chocolates nestle sweets 2 Japanese KitKats are shrinking, Nestlé says previous size may have been “too large” for customers https://soranews24.com/2020/10/19/japanese-kitkats-are-shrinking-nestle-says-previous-size-may-have-been-too-large-for-customers/ https://soranews24.com/2020/10/19/japanese-kitkats-are-shrinking-nestle-says-previous-size-may-have-been-too-large-for-customers/#comments Sun, 18 Oct 2020 15:00:51 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=519528

Twitter user uncovers a case of shrinkflation, and chocolate lovers aren’t happy about it.

Nobody does KitKats quite like Japan. Here, they come in all sorts of unique varieties like sakura, sake, and cough drop, and they’re even sold in post offices, where they’re packaged in decorative boxes perfect for sending to relatives and friends.

Commonly available in multi-packs, Japanese KitKats are so small you could easily eat half a dozen of them in one sitting. However, recently it’s come to light that they’ve now gotten even smaller, after a tweet from Twitter user @narumikeiya alerted everyone to the news.

▼ From the outside, the “renewed” standard KitKat (pictured at the bottom of the image below) doesn’t appear to be any smaller than its forebear.

However, @narumikeiya’s photos of the actual chocolates show a noticeable difference in size.

Weighing each chocolate reveals that the original weighs in at 12 grams (0.42 ounces)…

…while the renewed version weighs in at 10 grams (0.35 ounces). That’s a difference of two whole grams, which equates to 17 percent less chocolate.

▼ @narumikeiya’s findings immediately went viral online

上が従来のキットカット。下がリニューアルしたキットカット。うああああああああああああああああこれ以上キットカットを縮めないでくれえええええええええええ pic.twitter.com/aMrBBLfBWC

— なるみ圭矢(日本共産党・宇美町議) (@narumikeiya) October 4, 2020

KitKat fans were sad to see their beloved chocolate had shrunk, leaving comments like:

“Whoa, that’s almost a fifth of the chocolate gone in one hit!”
“This is heartbreaking!”
“I swear lots of sweets in Japan are shrinking these days.”
“A sad sign of Japan’s economic state.”
“I wonder how tiny KitKats will be in the future?”
“Looks like they had to choose between raising the price or reducing the amount.”

@narumikeiya says the tweet they posted online wasn’t pointing the finger at KitKat or Nestle for the change — as a lover of KitKats, @narumikeiya sees this as a reflection of a wider social problem, tweeting:

“First of all, consumption must increase and the market must be activated. Close the gap between rich and poor and raise wages for workers. Stabilise employment by making irregular employment regular. Reduce the burden on low-income earners. Whenever disposable income increases, consumption will increase. If each and every citizen has the economic power to withstand price increases, companies will naturally stop shrinkflation.”

It’s a sentiment many online agreed with, and as people debated the reasons for shrinkflation and raised concerns about its knock-on effects, a representative from Nestlé was later quoted as saying:

“For some time, many consumers have said they are concerned about calories and want to hold back on their sugar intake. From September 2020, we adjusted the recipe to switch part of the sugar to soy milk okara (lees) powder etc., and changed each serving to be bite-sized so that people concerned about calories can easily enjoy it. In the case of the standard ‘KitKat Mini’, the weight was reduced from 11.6 grams to 9.9 grams.”

Nestlé Japan actually sent out a press release with details of the renewed KitKat on 1 September, where the weight change was published, showing the original KitKat mini would decrease from 11.6 to 9.9 grams, while other mini flavours would decrease from 11.3 to 9.7 grams, with the change coming into effect from 14 September.

▼ This chart shows each bag of 12, 13 and 14-pack minis will contain one more bar, but the total weight of each bag will decrease by 9.5-13.9 grams.

The affected range (left to right, from top): Original, Otona no Amasa (“Adult Sweetness”), Otona no Amasa Matcha, Otona no Amasa Koi (“strong”) matcha, Otona no Amasa Strawberry, and Otona no Amasa Hojicha.

The new commercial for the renewed KitKats highlights the fact that they now contain 10 percent less sugar.

Nestlé’s representative said the company is aware of complaints from consumers due to the smaller size but they maintain that the change was implemented in response to consumer feedback that “the conventional product size may be too large.” A consumer survey was conducted before the release of the renewed KitKat, where “the product size was also highly evaluated.”

While Nestlé is yet to reveal whether or not they’ll be taking the knife to Japan’s huge roster of regional and seasonal KitKat flavours in future, we’ll be stocking up on them over winter… just in case.

Sources: Otakomu, PR Times, Twitter/@narumikeiya via Hachima Kiko
Featured image: Twitter/@narumikeiya
Insert images: Twitter/@narumikeiya, PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/10/19/japanese-kitkats-are-shrinking-nestle-says-previous-size-may-have-been-too-large-for-customers/feed/ 0 519528 Japanese KitKat shrinkflation Kit Kat Twitter Nestle Japan chocolate sweets news 2 Japanese KitKats up the frisson of excitement with their limited, premium “Blindfold Chocolatory” line https://soranews24.com/2020/04/04/japanese-kitkats-up-the-frisson-of-excitement-with-their-limited-premium-blindfold-chocolatory-line/ https://soranews24.com/2020/04/04/japanese-kitkats-up-the-frisson-of-excitement-with-their-limited-premium-blindfold-chocolatory-line/#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2020 03:00:44 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=495414

KitKat’s Chocolatory has teamed up with a professional illustrator to make these premium KitKats fun, fanciful and excitingly mysterious.

Since the clever cats at KitKat melded the words “chocolate” and “laboratory” together to form “Chocolatory”, the name of their upmarket boutiques where the classier cuts of KitKat are curated, they’ve done all kinds of wondrous and whimsical things to the simple chocolate-covered wafer treat we all know and love. Japan is already something of a KitKat capital due to its smorgasbord of uniquely tastebud-tickling flavors, but their Chocolatory boutiques elevate the KitKat to even higher levels.

We have the Chocolatory to thank for the ingenious innovation of sprinkling dried fruits and nuts along the top of a KitKat finger. How about KitKats crafted to resemble sushi? Chocolatory has you covered there, too. How about a dessert that’s just a giant cocoa pod? Been there, done that!

Their latest line, Blindfold Chocolatory, has taken a different tack. This time, you won’t be drawn to the box with the most familiar or enticing flavor — the flavor won’t be written on the packaging at all.

▼ Stunning illustrations by Misaki Tanaka line the boxes.

The Japanese name of the line is mekakushi, meaning to cover or hide one’s eyes. Since consumers won’t be able to simply read the flavor off the side of the box, it’ll be as though they’re blindfolded, unable to guess how the product will taste before they put it in their mouth. There are some guidelines, albeit vague ones; illustrator Misaki Tanaka has drawn 15 unique pictures to adorn the pretty packaging, and each one comes with a unique quote.

▼ Fifteen in total, each representing a tiny snapshot from the female experience.

“You turned winter into spring”, announces one box, decorated with a man and woman about to kiss in a flurry of cherry blossom petals. A cream-colored package shows a girl ready to tie her hair up: “I’m the only one who can make sure I get my happy ending.” The list goes on: “Turn the bitter memories into ingredients for your future bliss.” “When everyone adores you this much, it makes me start to hate you a little bit.”

▼ “A match made in heaven: me and my happiness.”

The idea is that the affinity with the illustrations and words on the packaging will lead you to a fitting taste experience, and even if it doesn’t, isn’t it worth the gamble? (Unless you’re allergic to one of the ingredients used in the bar, of course. Then it’s probably best to look for one that doesn’t use that ingredient.)

▼ “See? There you go again, letting me do whatever I like. You’re too nice, I can’t stand you. I love you.”

The bars can be purchased individually at any of the seven permanent KitKat Chocolatory stores for 300 to 400 yen (roughly US$2.80 to US$3.75), plus tax. There’s also an even more exclusive set of all 15 bars boxed up in a special package emblazoned with Misaki Tanaka’s art: this one costs a much heftier 5,100 yen, but can be mail-ordered through Nestlé’s online store.

▼ “When I can’t say how I really feel…I’ll try writing it down.”

The illustrator, Misaki Tanaka, had some comments for the Blindfold Chocolatory line.

“I drew the images for this intending to leave space for memories to seep in, like certain scenery or how it smells when you’re tucked close to the nape of a certain someone’s neck. These pieces, the ones I drew for the Blindfold Chocolatory packaging, felt like they invoked the exact sort of feeling I try to usually capture with my work. I drew them using the suggested copy provided to me by KitKat, as well as the color and general atmosphere of the chocolate. I hope you can really take your time with these chocolates, and indulge your imagination a little more than with your usual chocolate bar.”

Until these exciting and mysterious new flavors hit shelves, we’ll content ourselves with these delicious seasonal KitKat varieties that you can find in any grocery store. And don’t forget the classy, upmarket yoghurt sake version that debuted last month!

Source: PR Times
Top image: KitKat Chocolatory
Insert images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/04/04/japanese-kitkats-up-the-frisson-of-excitement-with-their-limited-premium-blindfold-chocolatory-line/feed/ 0 495414 screenshot.826 Yoghurt Sake is the newest Japanese KitKat we need to get our hands on right now https://soranews24.com/2020/03/10/yoghurt-sake-is-the-newest-japanese-kitkat-we-need-to-get-our-hands-on-right-now/ https://soranews24.com/2020/03/10/yoghurt-sake-is-the-newest-japanese-kitkat-we-need-to-get-our-hands-on-right-now/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2020 16:00:52 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=491904

There’s a brand new alcoholic KitKat to add to our souvenir wishlist.

Ever since Nestlé Japan released the world’s first-ever Sake KitKat back in 2016, the chocolate giant has been infusing KitKats with other popular Japanese tipples, including plum and yuzu liqueurs.

Produced under the supervision of former Japanese soccer star and now accomplished sake connoisseur Hidetoshi Nakata, these premium alcohol varieties have proven to be hugely popular, and now Nakata is bringing a new flavour to the lineup — Yoghurt Sake.

▼ Nakata travels the country looking for new and unusual sake varieties.

For this new release, Nakata travelled north to the Niizawa Sake Brewery, founded in Miyagi Prefecture in 1873, saying he wanted to introduce the world to new possibilities for Japanese sake that are not yet well-known.

What he’s introducing certainly isn’t well-known, as it’s a rice wine made with super rich Jersey yoghurt. Said to have “an exquisite balance between the astringency and sweetness of yoghurt and the refreshing sharpness of sake”, the alcoholic beverage brewed by Niizawa is said to pair well with chocolate.

▼ Niizawa’s fifth-generation president, Iwao NiizawaIwao, has been making the Yoghurt Sake since 2010.

The joint collaboration between the brewery and Nestle Japan aims to introduce the yoghurt sake to a much wider audience, as this rice wine can only be transported at temperatures lower than five degrees Celsius, making it relatively rare. At higher temperatures, there’s a risk of fermentation continuing in the bottle, which means bottles could explode, making exports difficult.

These restrictions around distribution make it a very hard-to-get local tipple, even in Japan, but now it can be enjoyed by people worldwide in the form of a KitKat called the Yoghurt Sake KitKat.

The new KitKats, which contain 0.5-percent alcohol, come in individually packaged mini bars.

The sky-blue packaging is said to recall images of a jersey cow eating grass under a blue sky, while also expressing the refreshing feeling you get from enjoying the taste of yogurt.

The Yoghurt Sake KitKats are said to taste like more than just yoghurt, with the aroma and flavour of Japanese sake also well pronounced. The new KitKats will be joining other premium sake-flavoured KitKats on souvenir store shelves nationwide from 16 March, with each nine-piece box retailing for 700 yen (US$6.50).

Source, images: Nestlé Japan
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/03/10/yoghurt-sake-is-the-newest-japanese-kitkat-we-need-to-get-our-hands-on-right-now/feed/ 0 491904 Japanese Kit Kat KitKat yogurt Sake yoghurt rice wine Japan souvenirs chocolates new Nestle 5 KitKat Mcflurry comes to McDonald’s Japan with commercial starring Japanese idol https://soranews24.com/2020/02/07/kitkat-mcflurry-comes-to-mcdonalds-japan-with-commercial-featuring-japanese-girl-group-idols/ https://soranews24.com/2020/02/07/kitkat-mcflurry-comes-to-mcdonalds-japan-with-commercial-featuring-japanese-girl-group-idols/#comments Fri, 07 Feb 2020 05:00:35 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=486829

After a seven-year hiatus, the popular chocolate brand is teaming up with the fast food giant for a limited time.

If there’s one thing McDonald’s excels at more than flipping burgers, it’s marketing. From their unusual gold fries prize contests to the curiously named Adult Cream Pie, the fast food giant knows just how to turn heads and get everyone flocking to the golden arches time and time again.

Now lines of customers will be forming at the arches for a new offering that’s just been announced, and this time it’s a special limited-time McFlurry that’s returning after a seven-year absence.

The KitKat McFlurry was first launched nationwide in 2007, and though well received, it was relegated to the wings after its short run, making way for new players like Pikachu and Gudetama to shine on centre stage as the star of McFlurry releases over the years.

Now it’s time for the KitKat McFlurry to finally step into the spotlight once again, and this time it’ll be appearing in specially branded KitKat cups.

The frozen dessert is said to contain a sweet mix of soft ice cream, finely crushed KitKats, and a special sauce made with couverture chocolate. The distinctive KitKat flavour and texture is said to be front and centre in this release, with its crispy wafers providing a delightful contrast to the smooth chocolate sauce and rich, soft cream.

The new McFlurry will make its debut on 12 February with a special commercial starring 20-year-old Moe Kamikokuryo, a Japanese idol and singer who’s currently a member of girl group ANGERME.

The ad is also set to star Japanese actor Takayuki Hamatsu, who plays the role of an examiner in a tense exam room with Kamikokuryo. He formally introduces the new KitKat McFlurry as if it’s an exam paper, before calling out “Begin!”, which prompts the examinees to start eating the McFlurry that was handed to them.

The new KitKat McFlurry will retail for 290 yen (US$2.64) at McDonald’s outlets around the country for a limited time from 12 February until early March.

Source, images: McDonald’s Japan press release
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/02/07/kitkat-mcflurry-comes-to-mcdonalds-japan-with-commercial-featuring-japanese-girl-group-idols/feed/ 0 486829 Japanese KitKats now come in edamame milkshake flavour https://soranews24.com/2019/11/27/japanese-kitkats-now-come-in-edamame-milkshake-flavour/ https://soranews24.com/2019/11/27/japanese-kitkats-now-come-in-edamame-milkshake-flavour/#comments Wed, 27 Nov 2019 05:00:34 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=477355

New Zunda Shake variety perfectly blends chocolate with sweet soybeans.

Nestlé Japan has been building on their core KitKat range by creating a number of premium varieties in recent years, collaborating with sake brewers and plum wine specialists to infuse popular drink flavours into their chocolate-covered wafers.

Now, a non-alcoholic beverage is stepping out as the star ingredient of a new premium KitKat, and it’s in collaboration with Zunda Saryo, an esteemed company from Sendai that specialises in all things zunda.

▼ Zunda is a crushed sweet soybean paste that’s often served atop mochi gelatinous rice balls as “zunda mochi“.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JINJIN -享受中国*旅游*美食 (@jin_jin72)

Zunda is a famous specialty of Sendai, in Miyagi Prefecture, and Zunda Saryo is one of the area’s most popular purveyors of the sweet, delivering “a polished, refined flavour” by using only freshly harvested young edamame soybeans.

▼ One of their best-selling products is their “Zunda Shake“, which has become a cult drink amongst locals and tourists.

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A post shared by 羽田空港公式アカウント (@haneda.airport_official)

This milkshake has been deemed so representative of the region that it’s now been given its very own KitKat, with the exact flavour replicated by infusing edamame powder into the cream inside its wafers, and blending the shake’s vanilla milk into the chocolate coating.

By incorporating identical ingredients from the beverage into the new chocolates, people will now be able to share the taste of the drink with friends and family around the world.

The KitKats will be sold in boxes of nine individually wrapped mini bars from 1 December for 800 yen (US$7.33) plus tax.

Available exclusively for sale in the Sendai region, the new KitKat can be found at souvenir stores in and around Sendai airport and train station, and also in local Kasho Sanzen stores.

So next time you’re in the area visiting the annual Tanabata festival, or the statue of feudal samurai lord Date Masamune, be sure to keep an eye out for the new Zunda Shake KitKat, and you might want to add the Tohoku region-exclusive Zunda KitKat to your shopping basket while you’re there.

Related: Kasho Sanzen store list
Source, images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/11/27/japanese-kitkats-now-come-in-edamame-milkshake-flavour/feed/ 0 477355 Japanese KitKats Kit Kats zunda saryo soybean edamame shake flavor flavors flavours Japan chocolates buy shop new 1 Japanese KitKats now come in Gold Caramel Tokyo Banana flavour https://soranews24.com/2019/11/19/japanese-kitkats-now-come-in-gold-caramel-tokyo-banana-flavour/ https://soranews24.com/2019/11/19/japanese-kitkats-now-come-in-gold-caramel-tokyo-banana-flavour/#comments Tue, 19 Nov 2019 01:00:10 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=475896

New golden makeover supports hard workers like Olympics athletes.

Back in 2017, the most famous souvenir snack in Japan’s capital city, Tokyo Banana, made news when it teamed up with Nestlé Japan to create a never-before-seen Tokyo Banana KitKat.

The new chocolate immediately rose to the top of everyone’s wishlist, with visitors and locals alike queuing up to buy boxes of the Tokyo-exclusive treat, and demand was so popular they teamed up again the following year to bring out a crepe-like premium version.

Now in 2019, the Tokyo Banana KitKat is back again, and this time it’s been given a “gold” makeover to support the nation’s hard workers who constantly strive for gold, including the athletes in the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games.

▼ Say hello to the Gold Tokyo Banana KitKat

▼ The new KitKat comes wrapped in a gorgeous, glistening gold packaging.

And the chocolate itself is golden in colour too, as caramel powder has been kneaded into both the banana-flavoured white chocolate wafer filling and the coating. This blend gives the KitKat a rich caramel flavour and a delicate banana aroma.

The new Tokyo Banana Kit Kats will be available in 8-pack or 15-pack boxes for 700 yen (US$6.44) and 1,280 yen respectively.

The Kit Kats will be sold exclusively at Tokyo Okashi Land (Tokyo Sweets Land) located at Ichiban-gai inside Tokyo Station from 14 November to 8 January. From 9 January, the product will become available at more stores around the Tokyo region, including airports, train stations, tourist spots and highway rest areas.

Source, images: Nestlé Japan
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/11/19/japanese-kitkats-now-come-in-gold-caramel-tokyo-banana-flavour/feed/ 0 475896 Japanese kit kat kitkats new exclusive Japan limited edition Tokyo Banana gold caramel flavour flavor New Yuzu Sake KitKat combines Japanese rice wine with a zesty local citrus https://soranews24.com/2019/09/12/new-yuzu-sake-kitkat-combines-japanese-rice-wine-with-a-zesty-local-citrus/ https://soranews24.com/2019/09/12/new-yuzu-sake-kitkat-combines-japanese-rice-wine-with-a-zesty-local-citrus/#comments Thu, 12 Sep 2019 01:00:21 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=465707

Now there’s a new alcoholic KitKat to add to our souvenir wishlist.

Nestlé Japan released the world’s first-ever Sake KitKat back in 2016, and since then they’ve been infusing their chocolate-covered wafers with other popular Japanese tipples, including an unusual umeshu plum liqueur and premium rice wine from an esteemed brewery.

These premium varieties — all produced under the supervision of former Japanese soccer star and now accomplished sake connoisseur Hidetoshi Nakata — have been such a hit that they’re now releasing a brand new alcoholic KitKat called Bijofu Yuzu Sake.

▼ Nakata is at the helm once again for this new release.

Yuzu is a popular Japanese citrus with a deliciously unique sour flavour that’s said to taste like a combination of grapefruit and lime. That’s not to say that it truly tastes like either of those things, though, as yuzu is unique, and its flavour is so adored you’ll find it in everything from teas and marmalades to spicy pepper and soba broth.

▼ The dimply yellow fruit is also used to make yuzushu, a liqueur that can be enjoyed on its own or with ice or a mixer

Image: Flickr/Ian Lee

Koichi Prefecture is the country’s largest producer of yuzu, and it’s also home to one of Japan’s best yuzushu varieties, created by local brewery Hamakata Shoten.

While many yuzushu liqueurs are created with a white spirit base, Hamakata Shoten’s yuzushu is made with a sake, or Japanese rice wine base. This gives the drink a richer and more complex flavour that lifts it way above other competitors on the market.

▼ Hamakata Shoten’s yuzushu is named “Bijofu Yuzu”. Bijofu translates to “beautiful, strong and kind”.

Bijofu’s mix of sake and freshly squeezed yuzu juice has a sweet and tart, zesty, refreshing flavour, and this is exactly what the new KitKats will taste like. Their special recipe will be kneaded into the wafers and their white chocolate coating to create a KitKat that’s both sweet and sour, and packed with yuzu flavour.

To find out more about the story behind the new KitKats, and Nakata’s involvement in the project, take a look at the video below, which comes complete with English subtitles.

Unlike the other two alcoholic KitKats in the Premium Sake series, the Yuzu Sake Kit Kats come with a slightly lower alcohol content of 0.2 percent alcohol. This gives them such a smooth flavour that even those who haven’t tasted yuzushu will fall in love with them.

The new KitKats went on sale at souvenir stores around the country on 5 September, and as they aren’t a seasonal or limited-edition variety, each nine-piece box will be available to purchase year-round at a retail price of 700 yen (US$6.50).

Source: Nestlé Japan
Images: Nestlé Japan (unless otherwise stated)
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/09/12/new-yuzu-sake-kitkat-combines-japanese-rice-wine-with-a-zesty-local-citrus/feed/ 0 465707 Japanese Kit Kats kit kat yuzu sake Hidetoshi Nakata chocolates Japan shop best buy 4 New Japanese Kit Kat features premium Tokyo Banana flavour…with crushed crepes https://soranews24.com/2018/12/14/new-japanese-kit-kat-features-premium-tokyo-banana-flavour-with-crushed-crepes/ https://soranews24.com/2018/12/14/new-japanese-kit-kat-features-premium-tokyo-banana-flavour-with-crushed-crepes/#comments Fri, 14 Dec 2018 13:00:08 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=435028

New premium Kit Kat comes with a premium professional pastry ingredient.

Last year, Nestlé Japan delighted customers with the news that they would be collaborating with one of Tokyo’s most beloved sponge cake souvenirs, Tokyo Banana, for a very special flavour release.

With lines out the door for the banana-flavoured offering, demand for the Tokyo Banana Kit Kat exceeded all expectations, so the two have decided to join forces once again, this time for an all-new premium version that looks set to be even more special than the original.

The premium edition has the same intense banana-milk flavour as the moist creamy filling used in Tokyo Banana cakes. It also boasts the same unique “moist-crunch combination” that made the original Tokyo Banana Kit Kats so popular, only now with the addition of a very special premium ingredient: Feuilletine.

Feuilletine are brittle, crispy flakes made from crushed cooked crepes or pie pastry, which are used to add sweetness and a light, crispy texture to professional pastries.

▼ Promotional posters for the new Kit Kat show it being showered in pieces of gold-coloured Feuilletine flakes.

This new Kit Kat has Feuilletine kneaded into the banana-milk-flavoured white chocolate coating, while the wafers are layered with a cream made from banana powder and a spiced caramel powder, to create a crisp, crunchy sensation and a deliciously bittersweet aftertaste.

▼ The new release is officially called “Tokyo Banana Kit Kats Premium Banana Milk Flavour with Feuilletine“.

Each wafer piece is imprinted with the words “Tokyo Banana” and “Kit Kat“, alongside an image of a bow-topped banana, which is Tokyo Banana’s well-known logo.

Like the original Tokyo Banana Kit Kat that came before it, this new premium version will be limited for sale to one spot in Tokyo upon release. The one place you’ll be able to buy it is at a special event space that will be set up in the Daimaru department store which is directly connected to Tokyo Station.

▼ The new Kit Kats will be sold in boxes of eight for 680 yen (US$5.99) plus tax, or boxes of 15 for 1,250 yen plus tax.

To help celebrate the new release, the first 20,000 people who spend more than 1,000 yen on the premium Kit Kats will receive two free Tokyo Banana Kit Kats.

The Tokyo Banana Kit Kat Premium Banana Milk Flavour with Feuilletine will be on sale at the Daimaru event space from 19 December 2018 to 8 January 2019. If you can’t make it to the event space during this period, the Kit Kats will also be available at Haneda Airport from 26 December, and at other stores around Tokyo, including JR Tokyo Station and Tokyo Solamachi at the base of Tokyo Skytree, from 9 January.

Source, images: PR Times

]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/12/14/new-japanese-kit-kat-features-premium-tokyo-banana-flavour-with-crushed-crepes/feed/ 0 435028 Japanese Kit Kats new flavour limited edition Tokyo Banana flavor Japan chocolate souvenir8 All the best Japanese Kit Kat flavours together in one exclusive anniversary box for limited time https://soranews24.com/2018/11/26/all-the-best-japanese-kit-kat-flavours-together-in-one-exclusive-anniversary-box-for-limited-time/ https://soranews24.com/2018/11/26/all-the-best-japanese-kit-kat-flavours-together-in-one-exclusive-anniversary-box-for-limited-time/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2018 14:00:30 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=433094

Now you can enjoy 35 different Japan-exclusive Kit Kats without having to run around town trying to find them all.

Back in 1973, Nestlé’s Kit Kat made its debut in Japan, and in the 45 years since, more than 350 different varieties have been produced here, giving Japanese Kit Kats a reputation unsurpassed by anywhere else in the world.

The regional-exclusive flavours, spread out across Japan, have made them a favourite souvenir for local and international travellers, but for fans of the brand it can often be difficult to track down a lot of the different flavours in one spot.

That’s where Nestlé’s new Kit Kat Japan Sales 45th Anniversary Assortment box comes in. Filled with 35 different varieties of Kit Kat, this is the best way to get a taste of some of the brand’s most sought-after flavours.

The star of the 45th Anniversary Assortment is their latest flavour sensation, Strawberry Tiramisu, which went on sale in Japan on 19 November. The Strawberry Tiramisu was created after half a million people from 81 regions voted for it to be made in a worldwide poll to help celebrate Kit Kat’s 45th year in the Japanese market.

Joining the winning Kit Kat flavour in the new commemorative box is 34 other delicious varieties, taken from three different Kit Kat ranges.

▼ First up is the “Popular Classics” range, which includes:

Top (left to right): Original Kit Kat, Otona no Amasa (Adult Sweetness), Otona no Amasa Matcha, Otona no Amasa Strong Matcha

Bottom (left to right): Otona no Amasa Strawberry, Matcha no Chikara (The Power of Matcha), Mainichi no Zeitaku (Everyday Luxury), Mainichi no Zeitaku with Strawberry Cheesecake

▼ Next is a selection of popular flavours from the Kit Kat Chocolatory range:

Top row: Sublime Bitter, Sublime Milk, Sublime White, Sublime Ruby

Second row: Sublime Matcha, Sublime Raw, I ♡ FRUITS: Yuzu, I ♡ FRUITS: Passionfruit

Third row: I ♡ FRUITS: Strawberry, I ♡ FRUITS: Raspberry, I ♡ FRUITS: Cassis, Chocolatory Special: Strawberry Maple

Bottom row: Chocolatory Special: Butter, Chocolatory Special: Pistachio and Raspberry

▼ And finally, the Regional Series, which includes:

Top row: Purple Sweet Potato, Amaou Strawberry, Momiji Manju, Itohkyuemon Uji Matcha

Middle row: Itohkyuemon Uji Hojicha (roasted green tea), Adzuki Red Bean Paste Sandwich, Shinshu Apple, Tamaruya Honten Wasabi

Bottom row: Strawberry Cheesecake, Rum and Raisin, Nihonshu Masuizumi Sake, Umeshu Tsuruume Plum Sake

The 45th Annivesary Assortment is currently available in limited quantities online and at Kit Kat Chocolatory stores around the country, at a retail price of 6,264 yen (US55.34).

Source, images: Nestle Japan

]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/11/26/all-the-best-japanese-kit-kat-flavours-together-in-one-exclusive-anniversary-box-for-limited-time/feed/ 0 433094 Japanese Kit Kats: Winning flavour from worldwide competition finally unveiled https://soranews24.com/2018/11/09/japanese-kit-kats-winning-flavour-from-worldwide-competition-finally-unveiled/ https://soranews24.com/2018/11/09/japanese-kit-kats-winning-flavour-from-worldwide-competition-finally-unveiled/#comments Fri, 09 Nov 2018 03:00:53 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=431307

New release, with unique packaging by a Japanese artist, set to be released internationally.

Back in April, Nestlé Japan announced it would be celebrating its 45th year of Japanese operations with a special New Flavour World Summit Campaign, calling for people around the world to cast their vote to decide the next limited-edition Kit Kat flavour.

Half a million people from 81 regions globally nominated a wide variety of ideas for the new release, and now it appears that suggestions like breast milk and Stroopwafel were laid aside for a more popular flavour choice: Strawberry Tiramisu.

Drawing a large majority of votes from people in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia and the U.K., the new Strawberry Tiramisu flavour is said to contain a delicious blend of bittersweet flavours, thanks to the mixture of mascarpone, coffee and cocoa cream kneaded into the wafers. The tiramisu mix is also blended into the white chocolate casing, which comes with the addition of real strawberry pulp pieces, to add a tart fruitiness to the creamy coffee dessert flavours.

The chocolates will be sold in a pack of 11 for 500 yen (US$4.40) or a box of three for 120 yen. Both versions will feature unusual designs on the packaging, showcasing the talents of Japanese comedian, actor, singer and artist Noritake Kinashi.

Kinashi will be exhibiting his art in 15 locations, both locally and internationally, in the next two years. Though he’s an accomplished artist, packaging design was a new experience for Kinashi, and he decided to create a theme of connection between people for the new release, with each individually wrapped Kit Kat featuring a different illustration.

The drawings also come with a variety of cute messages, including “I’m 45 years old too!” and “Congratulations on 45 years. Let’s also get to 45 years!”

While many Kit Kat releases are made exclusively for Japan, this new 45th anniversary flavour is set to be rolled out internationally following its initial run in Japan. The Starwberry Tiramisu Kit Kat will go on sale around the country from 19 November.

Source, images: Nestle Japan

]]> https://soranews24.com/2018/11/09/japanese-kit-kats-winning-flavour-from-worldwide-competition-finally-unveiled/feed/ 0 431307 Japanese Kit Kat Strawberry tiramisu art artists9