Sublime Volcanic KitKat could see passions erupt ahead of Valentine’s Day

Nestlé Japan Ltd. are set to raise passions on Valentine’s Day 2019 with the release of new KitKat, the Sublime Volcanic, the latest addition to the brand’s premium KitKat catalogue which is available to pre-order on Tuesday, ahead of a general release early next year. 

The KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Volcanic (キットカット ショコラトリー サブリム ボルカニック) is made from a mysterious volcanic chocolate created using a type of cacao cultivated on volcanic islands.

The rare cacao accounts for only 0.2% of the world’s production, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

While the Sublime Volcanic KitKat won’t be hitting the shelves of the brand’s boutique-style KitKat Chocolatory until January 15, 2019, fans will be able to get their orders in ahead of time from today at the eight Chocolatory across Japan, as well as online.

The announcement of the Sublime Volcanic comes at the end of a year that has seen Nestlé Japan release the Sublime Ruby KitKat, making them the first in the world to commercialize the pink “ruby” chocolate, as well as open a store in Osaka at which customers could customize their own KitKats.

Creation of the Sublime Volcanic KitKat has once again taken place under the supervision of Chef Yasunari Takagi, a pâtissier who has been overseeing the Chocolatory and premium range of KitKats since the project began in 2003. 

“Until now there hasn’t been a chocolate using cacao grown on volcanic islands, which I thought was interesting,” said Takagi in a press release. 

“If we put the taste into words, it’s exactly, “the taste of the earth”.”

The Sublime Volcanic KitKat will come in a series of three flavors -- Vanuatu (Malakula Island), Papua New Guinea (Karkar Island), The Philippines (Mindanao Island) -- each bringing their own personality to proceedings, and with a packaging that creators feel will deliver the happy vibes and raise the mood on Valentine’s Day.

Individual bars will retail at 400 yen (exc. tax), a box set of the three flavors is 1,300 yen. 

Vanuatu (Malakula Island)

Vanuatu, according to the press release, has been chosen as the world’s happiest country. The cacao used in this KatKat is cultivated in one of approximately 80 islands that make up the Pacific island nation. Wind brings volcanic ash from surrounding islands to create a rich soil on the island of Malakula where this cacao is cultivated.

The taste is characterized by a spicy acidity and fragrant, syrupy sweetness.

Papua New Guinea (Karkar)

Papua New Guinea is said to be the last paradise of the southwestern Pacific. The cacao used in this KitKat is cultivated at the foot of Mt. Uluman, after growers received the blessing of village elders in the area.

The taste is characterized by a fruity freshness like raspberries and grapes, and a vivid cacao feeling ending in a light, refreshing finish.

The Philippines (Mindanao)

In a nation of more than 7,000 islands the cacao used to create this KitKat is grown on the island of Mindanao, the only region of the archipelago in which cacao grows.

A more complex taste, it ranges from a gentle, grapefruit-like acidity to the sweet and sour of something like a cherry. A powerful and passionate flavor like rising magma -- perfect for Valentine’s Day then.

Nestlé's eight KitKat Chocolatory are located in Tokyo (4 stores), Osaka (3 stores), Kawasaki (1 store).

Sublime Volcanic page (Nestlé Japan)

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