{"id":44491,"date":"2024-12-26T13:34:07","date_gmt":"2024-12-26T21:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/?p=44491"},"modified":"2025-05-24T15:53:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T22:53:07","slug":"break-me-off-a-piece-of-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/outsidechocolate\/chocolateroundtheworld\/break-me-off-a-piece-of-that\/","title":{"rendered":"Break me off a piece of that"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of my childhood fav candy bars was KitKat. Basically 4 connected bars of wafers covered with milk chocolate, it was the perfect cookie\/candy crossover to me. However when Twix came to the US \u2014 adding caramel to the basic KitKat setup \u2014 I switched loyalties. And then like most people as I got older my tastes changed again and I dropped both for higher quality chocolate \u2014 as this site amply documents.<\/p>\n

\"Sugio
Sugio Mart\u2019s KitKat cooler bag<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And since I write about chocolate I get a lot of alerts and leads on everything chocolate. I started hearing about Japanese KitKats \u2014 how they were better than American KitKats and had a bunch of interesting flavors \u2014 about a decade ago. Because my interests skew local and artisan, I didn\u2019t really pursue the topic \u2014 even when Cacaopod and I went to Japan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That changed this past fall when Cacaopod saw an offer from Sugoi Mart<\/a> of this super cute KitKat themed cooler filled with 60 KitKat mini-bars<\/a> containing a mix of 10-20 Japanese flavors. The online store sells all sorts of Japanese snacks and collectibles and was also offering a 120-bar version for true Japanese KitKats fans but for us novices we went with the smaller (haha) option.<\/p>\n

When our cooler arrived it contained 17 different flavors \u2014 as far as we could tell based on their different packaging. They were packaged for the Japanese market so the labels were all in Japanese except for a few instances of decorative English. Even after using Google Translate to decipher the writing some of them were still mysterious: \u201cKits, Individuality, Put the kit in your mouth\u201d was what I got for the text on the first bar I \u201ctranslated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Every
Every kind of KitKat we received<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the bars did not say what they were even in Japanese. Luckily I found sites that list KitKat bars so I was able to pretty much figure out what was what based on how the graphics of my mini-bars were similar to the packages pictured. I also learned that there are seasonal KitKats<\/a>, KitKats made with regional specialties<\/a>, KitKats that are collaborations<\/a> with other brands, double KitKats<\/a> \u2014 meaning they are made with 2 types of chocolate, and adult KitKats<\/a> \u2014 ones with less sugar than regular KitKats. My assortment included some of each.<\/p>\n

This became the most research heavy piece I\u2019ve done for CBTB. In addition to all my newly acquired KitKat knowledge I looked for artisan alternatives for the bars \u2014first I searched this site for SFBA chocolate, then if I didn\u2019t find anything I expanded my pool. My suggestions don\u2019t match exactly \u2014 I don\u2019t know of anyone making artisan KitKats \u2014 but if you\u2019re interested in an upgraded chocolate experience I found some better chocolate with similar inclusions \u2014 and some are even crunchy!<\/p>\n

I also compared a Japanese KitKat to an American one<\/a> to see how they differed and if I would agree with the consensus opinion of Japanese KitKat superiority.<\/p>\n

Adult Sweetness<\/h2>\n

This is the newest range of KitKats \u2014 grownup versions of KitKats, meaning darker\/less sweet\/more bitter chocolate. It\u2019s called\u00a0Otona No Amasa<\/em> which literally means \u201csweetness for adults.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dark Chocolate<\/h3>\n
\"Dark
So mysterious<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course I wanted to try the Dark Chocolate bar first \u2014 both as a baseline for what Japanese KitKats are like and to gauge the quality of their chocolate. The wrapper doesn\u2019t actually say dark chocolate anywhere on it \u2014 and there were no ingredients lists on any of the mini-bars we received. The main Japanese text on this wrapper translated as \u201cKit, this is fine.\u201d Okay… The smaller text below was the Otona no Amasa \/Adult Sweetness tag, and the single line on the back translated as \u201cPut the kit in your mouth\u201d \u2014 a lot of the bars had this tagline.<\/p>\n

\"Adult
Adult Sweetness Dark Chocolate KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thus began my research. Finding the KitKat list at Japan Candy Store<\/a>, I was able to match this wrapper to the Dark Chocolate package on the site. Between this and the KitKat section at Sugio Mart<\/a> I was able to match my 17 varieties to their names and find out more about this whole other world of chocolate.<\/p>\n

As for the tasting experience, the bar smelled like sweet chocolate and had a typical KitKat biscuit texture with a mildly dark chocolate taste instead of the classic milk chocolate. To me it seemed like the original chocolate KitKat flavor but with less sugar. Cacaopod and I both approved.<\/p>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n
\"Bopomofo
Formosa Chocolates\u2019 Bopomofo Bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However the Adult Sweetness Dark Chocolate bar has got nothing on my SFBA recommendation. Formosa Chocolates<\/a>\u2019<\/strong> Bopomofo Bar<\/a> uses a much better couverture and it\u2019s crunchy too \u2014 from crushed bits of puffed rice. It\u2019s kinda cool the way it\u2019s made \u2014 there are 2 layers, the bottom dark chocolate layer is textured with the crunchy puffed rice and the top is a super smooth flat dark chocolate slab decorated with gold phonetic Chinese characters \u2014 the bo-po-mo-fo<\/em> of its name that Taiwanese kids learn so they can pronounce Chinese correctly.<\/p>\n

The Adult Sweetness KitKat doesn\u2019t mention cacao percentage \u2014 nor could I find it when I googled it but I think the Bopomofo Bar was probably higher at a still not bitter 65%.<\/p>\n

Deep Matcha<\/h3>\n
\"Deep
Deep Matcha wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Otona no Amasa line includes a white chocolate bar flavored with Uji matcha \u2014 matcha that comes from Uji, a Japanese city famous for its long history of growing high quality matcha. According to what I read, the recipe for the Deep Matcha bar includes 2X the amount of matcha used in KitKat\u2019s other matcha bars.<\/p>\n

\"Adult
Adult Sweetness Deep Matcha KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The main text on the solid green wrapper translated as \u201cKit, happiness comes to those who smile.\u201d The smaller text says \u201cAdult sweetness\u201d and \u201cstrong matcha\u201d \u2014 this KitKat was labeled with its flavor! No sleuthing required.<\/p>\n

The bar was the darkest green color of all the matcha KitKats included in our assortment. It wasn\u2019t bitter but it was less sweet than the other versions with a more matcha taste, especially the aftertaste. Cacaopod and I both thought this was the best matcha KitKat.<\/p>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n

For my money though \u2014 and it will cost more \u2014\u00a0Deux Cranes\u2019<\/a><\/strong> Matcha Chocolate with Caramelized Sesame bar<\/a> is more satisfying. It\u2019s a vividly dark green white chocolate that has a small crunch from caramelized white sesame seeds.<\/p>\n

\"back
The textured back of Deux Cranes\u2019 Matcha Chocolate with Caramelized Sesame bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The intense green color comes from all the matcha in it. That amount also gives it a distinct matcha aroma and immediate matcha taste. The matcha is strong bordering on bitter but the toasted sesame seeds and caramelization counter the bitterness. The KitKat bar is fine but this is definitely an upgrade. I especially recommend it if you love matcha.<\/p>\n

The upgraded options I\u2019m including are more expensive than the imported KitKats. With shipping we paid about $75 for the 60-piece variety pack and branded cooler bag. This single Deux Cranes bar is $14.<\/p>\n

For that money you get a large handcrafted bar made with generous amounts of the best ingredients in an elegant box suitable for gifting \u2014 all of that costs money. Not to mention most artisan chocolatiers and chocolate makers use ethically sourced cacao which also costs more.<\/p>\n

Strawberry<\/h3>\n
\"Strawberry
Adult Sweetness Strawberry wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 3rd Otona no Amasa bar we got was this no-name one. The sites identified it as Strawberry and described it as a white chocolate bar infused with Japanese strawberries. We also got KitKats made with strawberries from a specific region of Japan in the pack but I couldn\u2019t find anything more specific about these strawberries.<\/p>\n

\"Strawberry
Adult Sweetness Strawberry KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I could smell the strawberries as soon as I opened the rather plain solid pink wrapper. The bar was light pink with visible flecks of darker pink that I assume were real bits of strawberry. All positive signs.<\/p>\n

The bar had a tart strawberry flavor and wasn\u2019t too sweet which tells me they use a pretty good white chocolate. Cacaopod and I agreed this had a better strawberry taste than the seemingly more special regional strawberry KitKats in the assortment.<\/p>\n

\"Socola
Socola\u2019s Strawberry Cream Soda bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n

My upgrade suggestion for the Adult Sweetness Strawberry bar doesn\u2019t crunch \u2014 it crackles.<\/p>\n

Socola Chocolatier<\/a><\/strong>\"3-5 makes a Strawberry Cream Soda Bar<\/a> that fizzes as it melts in your mouth due to popping candy. Remember Pop Rocks? That\u2019s the experience.<\/p>\n

There are no crunchy wafers inside this pink-tinted white chocolate but you can see it has the same visible flecks from the strawberries mixed into the chocolate as the Adult Sweetness KitKat.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s that? You can\u2019t see the flecks because of all the slices of freeze-dried strawberries layered on top? Yes, Socola makes this next level with extra strawberry flavor. The abundant tart strawberries cut the sweetness of the white chocolate and along with the pop rocks make this a good, slightly unusual gift for strawberry & chocolate lovers.<\/p>\n

Seasonal<\/h2>\n

This next group of KitKats are limited edition flavors that KitKat releases 4 times a year which incorporate seasonal ingredients.<\/p>\n

Fall: Milk Tea<\/h3>\n
\"Milk
Milk Tea wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maybe because it was fall when we ordered our KitKat pack we got 3 Fall KitKats \u2014 and 2 out of the 3 were favs. The Milk Tea KitKat was one of those 2. It started with the cute illustration on the wrapper of a happy teapot, cup, and tea leaves practically dancing across a pastel plaid background.<\/p>\n

\"Milk
Milk Tea KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was surprised when I opened the package to find a cream colored white chocolate \u2014 I had assumed it would be a milk chocolate bar. Ya know, because \u201cmilk\u201d was in the name.<\/p>\n

I wondered what tea would be used to make it milk tea flavor. Mystery solved as soon as I opened the package \u2014 it had the distinct aroma of Earl Grey tea \u2014 that perfumy citrusy black tea scent. It was very lemony tasting and slightly bitter. We thought it was excellent. Now we just have to wait for fall to roll around again to buy more.<\/p>\n

Artisan options<\/h4>\n

If you go with my recommendations you won\u2019t have to wait another year. These are available year round.<\/p>\n

\"Milk
NeoCocoa\u2019s Milk Tea Toffee Brittle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Maison Bouche<\/a><\/strong> has an Earl Grey Tea Milk Chocolate Bar<\/a>. This is a milk chocolate bar \u2014 they also make the flavor in dark chocolate . I haven\u2019t tried these yet but I\u2019m sure they\u2019re good. I have liked the Maison Bouche bars I have tried<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A local milk tea chocolate treat I have tried and loved is NeoCocoa\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Milk Tea Toffee Brittle<\/a> \u2014 there\u2019s your crunch! Like the KitKat it\u2019s flavored with Earl Grey tea.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a typical toffee or brittle \u2014 there are no nuts, seeds, or nibs \u2014 the crunch comes from the caramelized sugar making up the brittle. This is a thin brittle coated on both sides with a delicious dark milk chocolate, Best of all is its distinct Earl Grey flavor.<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s the best Earl Grey flavored chocolate I ever tasted and I highly recommend it.<\/p>\n

Fall: Mont Blanc<\/h3>\n

The other Fall KitKat we loved was mysterious to us on a couple of levels: The packaging was the typical Japanese KitKat mini-bar \u2014 no English, no clear flavor illustration \u2014 and when we figured out the flavor we had no idea what it would taste like.<\/p>\n

\"Mont
Mont Blanc wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The wrapper was a pretty light green with the text written in an elegantly casual script and fall leaves scattered around it. Google Translate said, \u201cMont Blanc taste.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mont Blanc? Like the French dessert? I have never had that classic dessert because my focus is on chocolate and it has none. When I had the opportunity \u2014 Cacaopod and I saw the famous Mont Blanc pastry at the original Angelina<\/a> on our first trip to Paris \u2014 we were there for their hot chocolate which is pretty intense. There was no way we could handle another sweet treat in one sitting. Priorities.<\/p>\n

\"That's
Apologies for the bad, small photo but there are a couple of Mont Blanc pastries on the table in this pic taken in the grand Belle \u00c9poque tea room at Angelina in Paris<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now I wonder what we missed out on because based on the KitKat bar, Mont Blanc is delicious!<\/p>\n

KitKat took the sweet chestnut and rum cream of a Mont Blanc pastry and made a chestnut and rum flavored white chocolate shell covering layers of chestnut paste and wafers.<\/p>\n

The cream colored white chocolate Mont Blanc KitKat smelled delicious \u2014like cotton candy and a little sweet almond.<\/p>\n

\"Mont
Mont Blanc KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bar was sweet but tasted yummy with a caramelized butter frosting flavor \u2014 like birthday cake icing but better. It evoked memories of Christmas cookies.<\/p>\n

Cacaopod and I both loved this new flavor discovery \u2014 and to our delight Berkeley Bowl was carrying bags of KitKat Mont Blanc mini-bars when we did this tasting so we snagged a whole bag of these treats. WYKYK<\/p>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n

I don\u2019t know if I have just been missing it or if nobody local has made chocolate flavored with chestnuts but I have absolutely nothing I can recommend you buy instead of the KitKats. Maybe our local authentically French pastry chef Catherine Delfino at 1.2.3 Chocolat<\/a><\/strong> could be enticed to create something. Seems like she could do something chestnutty with her classic chocolate mousse recipe. Or maybe French trained Japanese American chocolatier Michiko Marron-Kibbey at Deux Cranes<\/strong> could whip up a bar that riffs on Mont Blanc pastry.<\/p>\n

\"Chocolate
Chocolate Chestnut Truffles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you can\u2019t wait we do have a\u00a0chocolate chestnut truffles recipe<\/a> on our site from Chocopi AKA original CBTB chocolateer Martha Shibata<\/a>. I never made these because I am not a cook and until this article I did not know how good chestnuts could taste in a dessert \u2014 let alone in chocolate \u2014 but Martha was enthusiastic about these.<\/p>\n

Fall: Apple Pie<\/h3>\n
\"Apple
Apple Pie KitKat Halloween themed wrapper has bats hovering around a slice of pie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last Fall KitKat in our assortment was Apple Pie \u2014 which for some reason was decorated with Halloween themed graphics on the wrapper?? I dunno, as American as apple pie and Halloween?<\/p>\n

The bar was described as combining the flavors of apple and cinnamon in white chocolate with the crispy KitKat wafers substituting for pie crust.<\/p>\n

\"Apple
Apple Pie KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bar was an appealing light orange color and smelled like apples and cinnamon. It had that typical KitKat texture and the taste and texture combined reminded us of apple cinnamon cereal.<\/p>\n

The creamy white chocolate added a slight a la mode aspect to the bar but also competed with the apple flavor so it tasted like a fruity cinnamon-y white chocolate \u2014 but not particularly apple. It\u2019s not bad just not in the same realm as the other 2 Fall bars.<\/p>\n

\"Compartes
Compart\u00e9s Apple Pie bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n

Locally I don\u2019t have anything. Michael Mischer<\/strong><\/a> used to do an apple pie bonbon but he\u2019s retired now. Maybe Michael Benner of Michael\u2019s Chocolates<\/a>\"3-5<\/strong> could be convinced to do one?<\/p>\n

He took over the other Michael\u2019s factory store and people coming into the shop often confuse the 2 and ask for Michael Mischer treats \u2014 so much so that Michael B. decided to do enrobed Oreos<\/a> too. Maybe we could get an apple pie bonbon or bar too if we lobby for it.<\/p>\n

The closest artisan option I know of is from LA\u2019s Compart\u00e9s<\/a>,<\/strong> makers of inventive unusual bars. They have a limited edition Apple Pie bar<\/a> for the fall\/winter season. It\u2019s a white chocolate bar flavored with cinnamon and incorporating bits of apple pie, cinnamon streusel, and cinnamon baked apple. So it\u2019s got lots of apple and cinnamon \u2014 and crunchy bits too!<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t had this bar but from other Compart\u00e9s bars I have tried<\/a> I think it\u2019s probably a better interpretation of apple pie in chocolate.<\/p>\n

Winter: Orange Chocolate<\/h3>\n

We received 2 other seasonal KitKats \u2014 one for winter and one for spring. I wish we had gotten a summer bar too \u2014 they sound interesting. Like they have a series of salted KitKats and one of mint KitKats for the summer that I am curious about. I\u2019d especially like to try the mint ones. I don\u2019t know why in the US peppermint is considered a winter ingredient<\/a> \u2014 it\u2019s cooling and refreshing, perfect for hot days. Turns out Japanese people might think the same way.<\/p>\n

\"Orange
Chocolate Orange wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No peppermint this time \u2014 the winter selection was Chocolate Orange which is a seasonal taste all over the world. In England they have Terry\u2019s Chocolate Orange<\/a> \u2014 the molded chocolate ball you \u201cwhack and unwrap\u201d so it falls apart into individual \u201corange segments.\u201d In Japan they have Chocolate Orange KitKats.<\/p>\n

\"Orange
Orange Chocolate KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This started out as a limited edition flavor that was retired. Then KitKat held a \u201crevival election\u201d where it won first place and they brought it back \u2014 it continues to be one of the most popular KitKats.<\/p>\n

KitKat\u2019s Chocolate Orange bar has orange flavored milk chocolate covering wafers which are layered with orange cream.<\/p>\n

It smelled sweet and tasted very orange. We thought it was one of the better fruit flavored KitKats but we preferred the plain dark KitKat to this one because of its high level of sweetness.<\/p>\n

Artisan options<\/h4>\n

Orange chocolate is a popular flavor and a lot of local chocolatiers and chocolate makers have their versions of it. I don\u2019t know of any that make one with wafers or crispy bits but here are a couple of orange chocolate bars I can recommend.<\/p>\n

\"Valencia
Casa de Chocolates\u2019 72% Valencia Orange Peel bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Casa de Chocolates<\/a><\/strong> has a 72% Valencia Orange Peel<\/a> bar which has long pieces of candied orange peel that are soft enough to break with the molded squares on the back of the bar, so you always have some candied orange when sampling. It\u2019s a very orange chocolate bar, and even thought it\u2019s one of their darker bars, it\u2019s not bitter.<\/p>\n

They make the bar in 2 sizes. I like getting the small one pictured here along with a mix of their other bars made with flavors from around Latin America.<\/p>\n

\"Cinnamon
The Xocolate Bar\u2019s Cinnamon Spice bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Xocolate Bar<\/strong><\/a> has a wide range of inclusion bars including a candied orange bar. But if you like ginger and cinnamon with your orange \u2014 think Constant Comment tea \u2014 their Cinnamon Spice bar<\/a> is better in my opinion. It\u2019s not KitKat crunchy but it is chewy from the candied orange peel and ginger.<\/p>\n

Depending on which inclusions are in \u2014 or not in \u2014 the piece you are eating, the taste ranges from a very chewy orange chocolate to chocolate covered candied ginger pieces to cinnamon flavored chocolate. It\u2019s a fun chocolate orange+ bar.<\/p>\n

The package graphics are delightful too. Combined with the fun taste\/texture experience this is a very giftable bar.<\/p>\n

Spring: Matcha Latte<\/h3>\n
\"Matcha
Matcha Latte wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last seasonal KitKat in our pack was the Matcha Latte for spring \u2014 which combines Uji matcha with milk. The packaging was pretty \u2014 light green with sakura blossoms decorating the edges and some latte art for visual identification.<\/p>\n

\"Matcha
Matcha Latte KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The outside of the bar was a lighter green than the Adult Sweetness Deep Matcha KitKat. The matcha flavored white chocolate covered wafers layered with matcha latte flavored cream inside.<\/p>\n

While that sounds like a lot of matcha this is a mild matcha flavored bar. It\u2019s not bitter and has a milky buttery taste along with the distinct matcha. It\u2019s noticeably sweeter and less matcha tasting than the Deep Matcha bar. We still thought it was excellent. If you don\u2019t like matcha bitterness, this is a good matcha chocolate bar to try.<\/p>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n
\"Socola
Socola\u2019s Crispity Matcha White Chocolate Bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No matter how good the Matcha Latte KitKat is, my artisan option is better: Socola Chocolatier<\/a><\/strong>\"3-5\u2019s <\/strong>Crispity Matcha White Chocolate Bar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It gets its \u201ccrispity\u201d crunch from bits of feuilletine sprinkled throughout the large bar. It\u2019s a bright green bar from all the matcha and it\u2019s not too sweet \u2014 the white chocolate serves mostly to tone down the matcha bite.<\/p>\n

The combination of white chocolate and matcha \u2014 along with some milk and butter \u2014 make it taste like a good matcha latte \u2014 and the crunchy bits add a cookie experience to the bar. I think this is my favorite white chocolate bar, my favorite matcha flavored bar, and my favorite Socola Chocolatier bar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Collaborations & Specials<\/h2>\n

We got a few of these KitKats made in collaboration with other brands or for specific purposes in our cooler bag.<\/p>\n

Tokyo Banana<\/h3>\n
\"Tokyo
Tokyo Banana wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This KitKat is made in collaboration with Tokyo Banana \u2014 which makes a popular dessert snack in Japan of individual sponge cakes filled with custard cream made with banana pur\u00e9e.<\/p>\n

These little banana shaped cakes are an iconic Tokyo souvenir. From its start in a stall at Tokyo Station in 1991, Tokyo Banana has expanded to other transit stations, the airport, and other shops around Tokyo. You can even find them on Amazon.<\/p>\n

KitKat has turned this banana flavored high end Twinkie into a milk chocolate KitKat that is made with its own special mold featuring a cubby Tokyo Banana.<\/p>\n

\"Tokyo
Tokyo Banana KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Besides being hella cute, the bar smelled like banana and had a real banana taste. The milk chocolate was good too. A delicious combo.<\/p>\n

Even better, the texture was unique \u2014 in addition to the crispy wafer it had a little mashed banana texture and a bit of a spongy texture. This one\u2019s a winner in our books. It even makes me want to seek out the original Tokyo Banana store if I ever go back to Japan.<\/p>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n
\"Socola\u2019s
Socola\u2019s Turon bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a good SFBA crunchy banana chocolate option, Socola Chocolatier<\/a><\/strong>\"3-5\u00a0had a limited edition bar in 2024 called Turon Crunch.<\/p>\n

Inspired by the Southeast Asian dessert of caramelized tropical fruit (typically banana) wrapped in spring roll wrappers and deep fried, this dark milk chocolate bar was decorated with a slice of dried banana and a puffy piece of yellow freeze dried jackfruit \u2014 plus tiny white sesame seeds sprinkled all over. Mixed inside the bar were crushed feuilletine bits and more pieces of fruit.<\/p>\n

Instead of the KitKat\u2019s crispy wafer\/mashed banana\/sponge cake texture combo, Socola\u2019s Turon bar had a crunchy chewy texture. It had a good banana chocolate flavor with an extra tropical note from the jackfruit that tasted a bit like mango. It\u2019s not currently available but if you like banana and chocolate, I\u2019d recommend checking with them periodically to see if they have brought it back.<\/p>\n

For Caf\u00e9<\/h3>\n
\"KitKat
KitKat For Caf\u00e9 wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nestl\u00e9 For Caf\u00e9 is a special KitKat developed for coffee bars. It\u2019s like a regular KitKat except they altered the chocolate recipe to make it specifically compliment coffee. It\u2019s not coffee flavored \u2014 KitKat makes a cafe au lait bar for that \u2014 instead it\u2019s supposed to be a chocolate bar to enjoy while drinking coffee.<\/p>\n

According to my research they knead a \u201cbiscuit formula\u201d into the chocolate. It sounded like maybe instead of layered wafers and filling there would be crispy bits scattered through solid chocolate.<\/p>\n

The bar looked like regular KitKats \u2014 maybe a slightly darker chocolate but otherwise the same. It had a medium snap and there were wafer layers inside just like all the other KitKats.<\/p>\n

\"For
For Caf\u00e9 KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I don\u2019t know what the biscuit formula adds to the bar except the chocolate didn\u2019t melt as quickly as regular KitKats \u2014 maybe the biscuits mixed into the couverture make it heftier than the other KitKats?<\/p>\n

We both liked this one. It\u2019s a good chocolate, definitely better than the regular milk chocolate to us. I could see having it with a cup of coffee \u2014 or tea as Cacaopod suggested.<\/p>\n

Artisan options<\/h3>\n
\"Chaga
The Chaga Company\u2019s chocolate ingots<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I am going to cheat a little here. My first option isn\u2019t a bar per se, and the second is a coffee infused bar.<\/p>\n

You might not think of a mushroom company for chocolate but\u00a0The Chaga Company<\/a><\/strong> makes a really good dark chocolate. Their 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate ingots<\/a> are little nuggets of savory dark chocolate infused with chaga mushrooms.<\/p>\n

They use a delicious non-bitter chocolate and the bite size chocolate cubes have a creamy texture with a savory undertone from the chaga mushroom infusion. The infusion is subtle \u2014 if you didn\u2019t know there was mushroom in this you would never guess what the savoriness was. It has a kind of dark chocolate ice cream taste.<\/p>\n

I think it makes a good pairing with a strong cup of coffee.<\/p>\n

\"Tiny
Tiny House\u2019s Arabica Coffee bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you want a coffee flavored chocolate instead, chocolate maker Tiny House of Chocolate Artisans<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>makes an excellent one. Tiny House makes bars with cacao from different regions \u2014 primarily in Brazil where they are from \u2014 with a variety of inclusions, many of them Brazilian in origin too such as cupua\u00e7u.<\/p>\n

Their Arabica Coffee 68% Cacao bar<\/a> made with beans from the Dominican Republic has an alluring coffee aroma and immediate coffee flavor. The Arabica coffee makes a very good combo with the chocolate in these well made bars.<\/p>\n

I like that this chocolate has a distinct and specific coffee flavor \u2014 Arabica which is strong, bright, and a little sour. The coffee flavor mellows as the chocolate melts and chocolate becomes the more prominent flavor.<\/p>\n

Cacao 72%<\/h3>\n
\"Cacao
Cacao 72% wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Marugoto Cacao with Cacao Nibs, 72% Cacao is the only KitKat that lists a percentage which is rare to see in a big name-brand chocolate.<\/p>\n

Marugoto<\/em> is Japanese for \u201cthe whole thing\u201d and a lot of the advertising copy for the bar describes it as chocolate infused with finely crushed cacao nibs so I’m guessing they added ground up cacao nibs to their Adult Sweetness dark chocolate couverture to up the cacao percentage\u2014 and they are naming it whole cacao. Who knows? It all reads like it\u2019s been put through Google Translate or maybe ChatGPT wrote the copy.<\/p>\n

\"72%
Cacao 72% KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whatever. When I opened the package I could see that the bar had bloomed and it smelled like baking chocolate. Not exactly the premium chocolate experience I had been led to believe I would have.<\/p>\n

The initial taste was hard cheap chocolate. It got better as it melted but it didn\u2019t have a good mouth feel \u2014 it was dry instead of creamy. It had a good chocolatey aftertaste but ultimately it\u2019s not a winner.<\/p>\n

Artisan options<\/h4>\n

There is no reason to suffer that when there are so many excellent SFBA options for a 72% range bar with better chocolate \u2014 such as 9th & Larkin\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0single origins, J Street\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> single origins, Rainy Day\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Tanzanian single origin, Little Burde\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>\u00a071-72% single origins, Dandelion\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> 70% single origins, Tiny House\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> 70%-71% single origin bars \u2014 some with inclusions, Volo\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> 70\u201373% single origins with inclusions, or new chocolate maker Cacao Regina\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> set of 70% single origins.<\/p>\n

\"Cacao
Cacao Regina\u2019s 70% single origin bars<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

None of those suggestions include a wafer or wafer substitute. For a crunchy option, CocoTutti<\/a><\/strong>\"3-5 makes chocolate covered matzah with 72% Guittard couverture, caramel, and sea salt. It\u2019s messier than eating the 72% KitKat but the flavors are way better.<\/p>\n

Doubles<\/h2>\n

KitKat Doubles are made with 2 different chocolates \u2014 for example white and milk \u2014 with one chocolate covering the top and the other serving as the slab foundation underneath. We received several of these two-tone chocolates.<\/p>\n

KitKat GOLD<\/h3>\n
\"KitKat
KitKat Gold wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We didn\u2019t know what to expect from KitKat GOLD just looking at the wrapper. The text translated to \u201cLet\u2019s support with KitKat!\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe this is a bar to give as encouragement to students at test time \u2014 one of the popular uses of KitKats in Japan. The name KitKat sounds similar to the Japanese phrase kitto katsu,<\/em> which translates to \u201cyou will certainly win,\u201d and is one of the reasons KitKat is so popular in Japan \u2014 it\u2019s become a traditional inexpensive gift or good luck charm.<\/p>\n

\"KitKat
KitKat Gold bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

KitKat\u2019s name in Japanese is pronounced \u201ckitto katto\u201d and looks like: \u30ad\u30c3\u30c8\u30ab\u30c3\u30c8. You can see that phrase \u2014 with its character that looks like a wry smily face \u2014 in the top line of the text on the wrapper. It sounds cute and even looks cute!<\/p>\n

The KitKat itself had blonde chocolate on top and dark milk on the bottom. It had a butterscotch flavor and was slightly coconutty. We thought it was delicious \u2014 a winner to inspire winning!<\/p>\n

\"Golden
Woodhouse\u2019s Golden Ticket<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n

Even better than the KitKat GOLD is\u00a0Woodhouse Chocolate\u2019s<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Willy Wonka-inspired Golden Ticket bar<\/a> which also uses \u201cgold chocolate\u201d \u2014 AKA blonde chocolate. It\u2019s an eye-catching bar with its warm tone and splashes of dark chocolate and gold powder.<\/p>\n

Blonde chocolate is made by cooking white chocolate or its ingredients \u2014 cocoa butter, milk, and sugar \u2014 until they caramelize. Woodhouse\u2019s gold is darker than other blondes because they caramelize it 2x.<\/p>\n

Blonde chocolate is not as sweet as white chocolate and the Golden Ticket bar tastes mainly caramel. As the crumbled bits of 90% dark chocolate melt it tastes more chocolatey. All it\u2019s missing is some crunchy cookie crumbs to surpass the KitKat on all marks.<\/p>\n

Double Strawberry<\/h3>\n
\"Double
Double Strawberry wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The other Double KitKats had these 2 color labels with a big swash running like a wave across the front of the wrappers. The Double Strawberry KitKat label kept its flavor to itself \u2014 the text translated as \u201cKit moving forward!\u201d<\/p>\n

Looks like another encouragement\/good luck bar.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Double Strawberry KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even without the flavor printed on the label it was revealed when opened \u2014 pink on top and milk chocolate on bottom the bar smelled like strawberry and chocolate, mostly chocolate.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately the flavor was off. The bar had a weird chemical strawberry taste. It also seemed to have a different type of wafer than the other KitKats. I found some KitKat flavors in my research that said they were made with whole wheat wafers and that might be the case here because there was a pronounced wheat or grain flavor. It was not a good combo. This one was not a winner.<\/p>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n
\"Strawberry
Deux Cranes\u2019 Strawberry Dark Chocolate bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No worries. We have a winner in Deux Cranes\u2019<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0vegan Strawberry and Dark Chocolate bar<\/a> \u2014 an eye-catching bar with bright pink Valrhona Strawberry Chocolate flowing over 70% dark chocolate molded with a broken cubes pattern.<\/p>\n

Besides looking so arresting the bar has an appetizing strawberry\/chocolate aroma. It\u2019s well made with a strong snap and smooth texture. It has an immediate strawberry flavor then chocolate. The strawberry is intense and the chocolate is mild not bitter.<\/p>\n

Double Matcha<\/h3>\n
\"Double
Double Matcha wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last Double KitKat had a red and green wrapper wit the same wave\/swash treatment as the Double Strawberry but with a more ambiguous statement printed across the front: \u201cKit, most likely\u201d<\/p>\n

At least that\u2019s what Google Translate said. Who do you give this bar to? Not the strongest encouragement, it sounds almost like \u2018you will probably do okay.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"Double
Double Matcha KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The top part was dark green Uji matcha flavored white chocolate while the bottom was milk chocolate. I think this was the prettiest Double bar.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also a good one. The matcha was mild, almost too subtle. The chocolate was more pronounced. It\u2019s funny because the advertising copy for this one said it was a deeper, slightly bitter matcha bar but it was like the lightest matcha flavor of the 3 matcha bars we got in our cooler.<\/p>\n

Mild or not it\u2019s still a good bar and became more matcha in the aftertaste.<\/p>\n

\"Jade\u2019s
Jade\u2019s Genmai bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n

The closest local artisan option to the Double Matcha KitKat I found is the Genmai bar from veteran SFBA chocolatier Jade Chocolates<\/a>.<\/strong> It\u2019s got green tea, milk chocolate, and some crunchiness. I describe it as an upscale Nestle\u2019s Crunch bar with an Asian twist. It uses genmai cha \u2014 which is a mix of green tea and roasted brown rice \u2014 and adds a floral note with jasmine tea.<\/p>\n

Jade\u2019s Genmai bar is a thick bar made with a pretty mold of varying height squares embossed with cacao flower images. It has a medium hard snap and smooth texture. Jade uses a 35% milk chocolate for this bar that tastes darker than its percentage but not so much as to be bitter.<\/p>\n

The bar has an immediate milky chocolate and jasmine tea flavor, then a roasted nutty taste from the crispy rice. It\u2019s less sweet than the KitKat Double Matcha and it\u2019s more a jasmine tea bar, not matcha. Still it is definitely a green tea bar \u2014with an elegant floral jasmine aftertaste.<\/p>\n

Gotochi \u2013 regional specialties<\/h2>\n

Gotochi<\/em> means local in Japanese and KitKat makes bars flavored with local ingredients that are sold as souvenirs of the regions where the ingredients were harvested.<\/p>\n

Kyushu: Amaou Strawberry<\/h3>\n
\"Strawberry
Amaou Strawberry wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first souvenir KitKat we tried was made with Amaou strawberries which are grown on the island of Kyushu \u2014 the big island at the bottom of Japan.<\/p>\n

I liked the wrapper with its colorful fat strawberries on a deep blue background. I wish I had liked the bar inside too.<\/p>\n

\"Amaou
Amaou Strawberry KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

KitKat uses the Amaou strawberries to flavor the white chocolate shell. The strawberries also colored the KitKat an attractive pink. It was the prettiest of the 3 strawberry KitKats and smelled like strawberries just like the others.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately it tasted strange \u2014 vegetal and soapy and not very strawberry. Maybe we got a bad batch but we tried 2 of these bars and I have to say this KitKat is a no. Go to Kyushu for their famed ramen and real strawberries but don\u2019t bring this home as a souvenir.<\/p>\n

\"Parisian
Parisian Pink bar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Artisan options<\/h4>\n

A much better strawberry bar in my opinion is SFBA based Charlotte Truffles\u2019<\/a><\/strong> Parisian Pink Bar AKA Mon Amour Bar. It\u2019s a pretty pink bar with a white chocolate molded Eiffel Tower on the back.<\/p>\n

The bar smells like strawberries and is a buttery white chocolate with a mild strawberry flavor. It\u2019s not a crunchy bar but it tastes like real strawberries and it\u2019s not overly sweet.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not always available \u2014 I picked it up at the International Chocolate Salon<\/a> this year \u2014 so I have another suggestion but it\u2019s not local.<\/p>\n

For a crunchy strawberry bar, LA based Compart\u00e9s<\/strong> makes a Strawberry Shortcake Chocolate Bar<\/a> that includes lots of crunchy cookie bits along with strawberry pieces in another pretty pink bar. It\u2019s not local but we recommend it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Shinshu: Shinshu Apples<\/h3>\n
\"Shinsu
Shinsu Apples wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to KitKat, Nagano prefecture is known for its specialty apples. So KitKat makes these gotochi bars with milk chocolate infused with Shinshu apples from Nagano.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s interesting that unlike the Apple Pie KitKat this is made with milk chocolate instead of white chocolate.<\/p>\n

\"Apple
Shinsu Apples KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even if the wrapper didn\u2019t have apple illustrations covering the front you would know it was apple flavored because you can smell it as soon as you open the wrapper. The bar was shiny \u2014 which I hadn\u2019t noticed with the other KitKats \u2014 and had a softer break than most of the other bars.<\/p>\n

It had a tangy apple flavor in mild milk chocolate. It\u2019s an unusual combination but a good one. I liked this KitKat.<\/p>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n
\"Giant
Dunn Family Chocolates\u2019 giant chocolate dipped apple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I couldn\u2019t find an SFBA apple flavored bar. Most American apple and chocolate combos include spices or are chocolate covered apples \u2014 which is something a local chocolatier is known for.<\/p>\n

Dunn Family Chocolates<\/a><\/strong> has been making giant (2+ pounds) chocolate and caramel covered apples<\/a> for decades. Formerly Rachel Dunn Chocolates in Concord, they closed for a few years then reopened in Oakland as Dunn Family Chocolates, where they make their signature treats and also offer classes. These apples might not have crispy wafers but they do have plenty of crunch from the fresh apples and the roasted chopped almonds covering them.<\/p>\n

Shizuoka: Wasabi<\/h3>\n
\"Wasabi
Shizuoka Wasabi wrapper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I saved this bar for last not because it\u2019s the best but because it\u2019s wasabi \u2014 and I hate wasabi.<\/p>\n

I have a caveat though. Most wasabi \u2014 like 99% of what is called wasabi in the US \u2014 is not wasabi, it\u2019s horseradish dyed green. Horseradish tastes like poison to me. The smallest hint of it on sushi ruins the sushi for me.<\/p>\n

Real wasabi \u2014 the freshly grated root is different. I know because last time we were in Korea our friends took Cacaopod and me to a sushi restaurant where they use the real thing. The wasabi still had a slightly poisonous taste but the heat came quickly and blew it away. I could finally appreciate eating sushi with wasabi.<\/p>\n

According to KitKat the wasabi paste used in these bars is made in Shizuoka Prefecture which is known for the production of wasabi. Since this sounded like it was going to be authentic wasabi \u2014 not gussied up horseradish \u2014 I was willing to try it.<\/p>\n

\"Wasabi
Wasabi KitKat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I wavered a little upon opening the wrapper which revealed an almost glowing green KitKat. Food coloring perhaps? Oh no!<\/p>\n

Persevering I continued the inspection. The bar didn\u2019t smell like wasabi \u2014 it smelled sweet.<\/p>\n

And the taste? It started out sweet then a little heat and a lightly wasabi \u2014 not horseradish \u2014 flavor. Yay! As Cacaopod \u2014 who also experiences horseradish as poison, we are truly meant for each other \u2014 said, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t seek it out but it\u2019s the best wasabi candy I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Artisan option<\/h4>\n

I got nuthin\u2019. I don\u2019t mess with no American wasabi chocolates. You are on your own.<\/p>\n

American KitKat<\/h2>\n
\"American
American vs Japanese snack size KitKats<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally I wanted to compare American KitKats with the Japanese ones to settle for myself if Japanese KitKats are superior.<\/p>\n

Since it was around Halloween when we got the cooler I bought a bag of American snack size KitKats for the treat or treaters and put aside a few for comparison. I used the Adult Sweetness Dark Japanese KitKat for the comparison because it was the closest to the plain American KitKat. As I expected the American KitKat was bigger because that\u2019s how we roll, right?<\/p>\n

\"KitKat
KitKat cross sections<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While it was longer it wasn\u2019t taller. It wasn\u2019t as cute as the almost square Japanese KitKat and the molded logo treatment was not as attractive \u2014 the letters were spaced out and there were no parenthesis \u2014 it looked kind of blah.<\/p>\n

Cross sections of the 2 KitKats revealed the American one had 3 layers of wafer vs. 2 layers in the Japanese one. The Japanese KitKat had a thicker chocolate shell.<\/p>\n

The taste and texture experience was different too. The American KitKat had a soft crunch. The Japanese one had a crisper crunch and better tasting chocolate.<\/p>\n

I agree with what I\u2019ve heard: Japanese KitKats are better. My experience is that they use better quality ingredients. And they have a lot of fun flavors \u2014 literally hundreds more. So with online stores selling Japanese KitKats directly to US consumers we can all enjoy them in all their quirky adventurousness.<\/p>\n

Sugoi Mart \u2014 beyond KitKats<\/h2>\n

While the variety pack was a fun introduction to Japanese KitKats you don\u2019t have to drop that many $$$ to try some. In addition to the KitKat variety packs, Sugoi Mart sells packages of single Japanese KitKat flavors that change frequently. When I wrote this there were almost 30 flavors available including Sake (\u201cWith a small percentage of real sake actually used to make this tasty treat!\u201d), Azuki (Red Bean) Sandwich, Purple Sweet Potato, Hojicha (roasted green tea), and Blueberry Cheesecake \u2014 plus the flavors in my assortment.<\/p>\n

\"Lotte
Lotte Boiled Egg Chewing Gum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sugoi Mart sells a lot of other Japanese treats too such as Pocky \u2014 the chocolate covered biscuit sticks \u2014 with almost 20 flavors including grape, melon, and tomato \u2014 well, technically it is a fruit.<\/p>\n

There are lots of other ever changing Japanese treats at Sugio Mart \u2014 how about boiled egg chewing gum?<\/p>\n

According to the Sugoi Mart site, you can \u201cElevate your snacking game with Lotte Boiled Egg Gum, delivering a quirky twist on a classic treat. Bursting with unexpected delight, it’s a must-try for those craving a playful flavor adventure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed. Thx but I\u2019ll stick with the KitKats.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cPlayful flavor adventures\u201d await in the world of Japanese candies and snacks \u2014 or up your experience with some recommended SFBA replacements<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":44496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1570,20,169],"tags":[1542,1117,1636,367,1023,275,1408,270,1463,1657,1151,1288,97,852,1454,811,73,935,821,892,281,1498,1313,1556,1091,806],"class_list":["post-44491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asian-chocolate","category-chocolateroundtheworld","category-reviews","tag-1-2-3-chocolat","tag-9th-larkin","tag-cacao-regina","tag-casa-de-chocolates","tag-charlotte-truffles","tag-cocotutti","tag-compartes-chocolatier","tag-dandelion-chocolate","tag-deux-cranes-chocolates-and-confections","tag-dunn-family-chocolates","tag-formosa-chocolates","tag-j-street-chocolate","tag-jade-chocolates","tag-kitkat","tag-little-burde-chocolate","tag-maison-bouche","tag-michael-mischer","tag-michaels-chocolates","tag-neococoa","tag-rainy-day-chocolate","tag-socola-chocolatier","tag-the-chaga-company","tag-the-xocolate-bar","tag-tiny-house-chocolate","tag-volo-chocolate","tag-woodhouse-chocolate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44491","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44491"}],"version-history":[{"count":52,"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44491\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45925,"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44491\/revisions\/45925"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44491"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44491"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44491"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}