Pizza Hut is serving “matcha pizza” made with red bean and mochi

In these troubled times, your local takeaway might be your biggest source of comfort. As a way to break up the monotony of virus-induced isolation, having something tasty transported to you from the outside world is as good a way as any to stay sane. It certainly beats 18 hours of uninterrupted Netflix. 

However, just because takeaways are generally delicious, doesn’t mean that they can’t still be terrifying. For every comforting vat of steaming curry, there is something seriously dubious waiting to ruin your appetite. Pizza Hut Taiwan has come up with just such a dish. 

In a promotion that is deeply dividing the internet, the offshoot of the American fast-food franchise has created a pie that makes Domino’s hot dog-stuffed crust look like an old family tradition from a Neapolitan nonna. Dubbed the “Kyoto Uji Gold Time” pizza, this eclectic combination features a blend of “red beans”, “white jade”, “matcha sauce”, “matcha powder”, “matcha milk cap”, and “cheese”.

Check out our Giant Calzone Pizza recipe:

Costing $329 New Taiwan Dollars, the dish is only available in a “San Francisco” style crust, which seems to be the most traditional dough available. According to the Google-translated description on the Pizza Hut Taiwan website:

“Pizza Hut Kyoto Uji Gold Pizza, using genuine Kyoto matcha powder, covered with soft and carefully selected red beans, and then topped with Q round white jade mochi, topped with matcha tea milk cap, and paired with fresh and non-greasy San Francisco handmade cake Skin, the wonderful taste will definitely let you take it one by one.”

While the limitations of Google definitely don’t provide a full picture, there can be little doubt that the pizza is a dramatic departure from Italian tradition.

While reviews of the pie are few and far between, there are some brave customers who have given it a try. Erin Hale, a freelance journalist based in Taiwan, described the dish as “a food crime to most Italians,” suggesting that it leaves quite a lot to be desired. Say what you will about unusual pizza toppings, clearly there is no such thing as “too much”.