Everything You Need To Know About Wasabi Kit Kats

Devouring "up to five million Kit Kats a day," according to CBS News, Japan is nearly as serious about the famous wafer and chocolate candy as it is about its wasabi. So the creation of a Kit Kat flavored with the fiery condiment makes perfect sense.

While the idea of combining wasabi, a spicy mixture created from the Wasabia japonica plant often paired with sushi (per Taste of Home), with the traditionally sugary taste of Kit Kats may seem unusual, in Japan it's common for candies to come in a variety of unconventional flavors. For example, Genghis Khan caramels are Starburst-shaped candies that are meant to mimic the flavor of a famous mutton dish from Hokkaido, per I'm Made of Sugar.

According to The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, wasabi has been prized by Japanese people dating back to "around 14,000 BC to 400 BC." Its long history in Japan makes it a prime choice for a Kit Kat flavor to delight the country. But how did Kit Kat, a brand that originated in England, become popular enough in Japan to earn so many uniquely Japanese flavors? And what actually goes into making this sweet and spicy candy?

The New York Times notes that Kit Kats found their way into Japanese culture in the early '70s. However, the well-known Japanese Kit Kats made in an assortment of flavors didn't launch until 2000. Japan's first unique Kit Kat flavor was strawberry, but it wasn't long before Wasabi Kit Kats joined the Japanese Kit Kat family.

Wasabi Kit Kats are created with white chocolate, horseradish, and Tamaruya Honten Wasabi – a historically well-known wasabi producer in Japan, according to the company's website. The bars are an aesthetically pleasing light green that imitates the color of wasabi and are wrapped in packaging with a picture of its namesake ingredient on the front. As Japan Candy Store points out, Wasabi Kit Kats can only be found in stores in Japan. However, overseas Kit Kat lovers can purchase the candy online to be delivered to their homes.

If you are set on ordering Wasabi Kit Kats or snagging some on a trip to Japan, you probably won't have to worry about finding them sold out. The Wasabi Kit Kat and its other uniquely flavored friends are sold in abundance because, as reported by KTNV, parent company Nestlé, opened a factory in Japan exclusively to produce the special Kit Kats.