Get Burger King's Black Burger While You Can
— -- Burger King's black bun burger was a hit with Japanese consumers. How will American Burger King fans react?
The black beef burger -- made with Kraft's A.1. Thick and Hearty Sauce, melted American cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, pickles and sliced white onions -- has been dubbed the "Halloween Whopper." It went on sale starting today for a limited time.
The burger was first introduced in Japan last year. The black bun offered in Japan reportedly got its black hue from bamboo charcoal.
The American version will not feature bamboo charcoal. The dark color in the U.S. sandwich comes from the "smoky black pepper flavor of A.1. baked into the bun," a Burger King spokesman told ABC News, adding that the bun also contains less than one percent of food dye.
The "Halloween Whopper" clocks in at 710 calories and 43 grams of fat, according to Burger King's nutritional info. This special edition burger is actually healthier than the regular Whopper with cheese (730 calories and 44 grams of fat).
“Our U.S. guests have been extremely curious about the bun flavors they’ve seen introduced in Japan and other countries, so we saw the opportunity to bring them an equally unique experience,” Eric Hirschhorn, chief marketing officer for Burger King Brand North America, said in a statement. “We tailored the flavor of the black bun to the American palate with A.1. sauce, a flavor this country loves, and we’re delivering it in a way that’s never been done before by baking it into the bun. It may look Japanese but it tastes like America.”
Kraft, which owns A.1. Sauce, did not respond to a request for comment.
