Chocolate slices for sandwiches launch in Japan

Sliced chocolate for sandwiches is the latest food entrant into the "I can't believe this didn't exist before" category - right up there with the cronut, ramen burger and mince-pie doughnut.

Created by Japanese company Bourbon, the two-millimetre thin chocolate slices are a bit like a cross between Kraft cheese singles and Nutella spread - although Good Food understands Bourbon's slices have a stronger flavour than standard milk-chocolate based products (each slice has an alcohol content of 1.3 per cent).

The slices can only be purchased from the company's website in 12-pack bags for ¥3240 ($37). Each pack contains five slices, so you're looking at about 60¢ per slice. Note the slices are currently sold out and, when they do become available again, you might need to be fluent in Japanese (or know someone that does) to navigate the online ordering system. Even Google's translate function has its limits.

If you do get your hands on some, the company also asks you to overlook using the chocolate slices only for lunchtime sandwiches and serving suggestions on its website include crepes, banana rolls and chocolate-layered crackers.

Bourbon's slices shouldn't be confused with pålæg chocolate from Denmark, by the way. The much-loved Danish chocolate slices are firmer and more wafer-like than the Krafty new cuts out of Japan.