I've always been a fan of anything cookies and cream themed so I was delighted to be asked to review these Cookies & Cream Kit Kats by Oyatsu Cafe. This is the latest Limited Edition flavor Kit Kat to be released in Japan this year, hot on the heels of the Passionfruit Kit Kat and the Match Green Tea Kit Kat, which I've previously reviewed.
The Cookies & Cream Kit Kat, come in multipack bags containing 13 mini Kit Kats. Looking closely at the packaging, with it's ice crystals decorations and overall wintery appearance, I realised that this is not just an ordinary cookies and cream theme - this an ice cream version!
Just like the previous mini Japanese Kit Kat I've reviewed, these are gorgeously packaged and I love the space to write your name on the back of each one.
As soon as I opened the wrapper I loved way the appearance of the chocolate - it's mottled creamy color with dark biscuit bits is just what I would expect from a cookies & cream flavor.
This is by far my favorite of all the Japanese Kit Kats I've tried. The outer chocolate is creamy with an intense vanilla flavor that is perfect for the ice cream theme. The cookies add a lovely biscuity flavor and a slight texture to the chocolate too. The inner wafer is slightly different to the usual Kit Kat, with extra vanilla flavor within all the layers, adding even more sweetness. The whole thing is absolutely delicious and tastes like the Haagen Daz ice cream flavor Cookies & Cream in chocolate form!
I just want to mention the Cookies & Cream Kit Kat already available in the UK. I've had a review sitting in my draft folder for a long while now, but it's never as much fun to write reviews for products that have been disappointing, and the UK version was very much a let down. Here's a quick comparision between the UK and Japanese Cookies & Cream Kit Kat's. You can also check out A Simple Geeky Life who's done a more detailed comparison on her blog here.
Immediately the outer packaging is completely boring and lack any of the charm of the Japanese version. It's also got that garish 5 + 3 FREE logo that is typical for UK multipack. It's also a bit misleading since these multipacks never come in packs of 5 anyway, it's always 7 or 8 in a pack.
Above: UK Kit Kat Below: Japanese Kit Kat
As you can see the Japanese Kit Kat's are mini versions so obviously they are quite a bit smaller. However, what they lack in size they make up for in flavor. The UK version is simply a cookie flavoured white chocolate on top, with a milk chocolate layer underneath. The flavor is fairly standard - very sweet, and nothing special about it at all to justitfy it as a Cookies & Cream flavor. It certainly can't compete with the superb flavor of the Japanese Cookies & Cream Kit Kat.Even though I've been very fortunate to receive products directly from Japanese online store Oyatsu Cafe, I have also placed several personal orders with them. Their prices are very reasonable and the delivery has always been very quick. My last order came to under £15 for lots of Japanese goodies including a bag of Mini Kit Kats. I especially love the look of the new Glico Pocky Star Wars range! Check it out here - http://oyatsucafe.com/other-items/glico-and-star-wars
Don't forget that Oyatsu Cafe have offered my readers 15% discount on all orders, simply use the discount code GROCERYGEMS at the checkout. See HERE for more details. I don't receive any compensation if you order from Oyatsu Cafe or use the above code.
Grocery Gems Verdict: Cookies & Cream Kit Kat
RATING: 9.5 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.Purchased: Available from Oyatsu Cafe.
Price: $6.49 (approx. £4.33)
