The Japan Kit Kat store Chocolatory is selling the ultimate indulgence this Christmas: chocolate bars wrapped in real gold.

And yes – they’re safe to eat… which essentially means consumers will quite literally end up flushing gold down the toilet.

Nestle’s Kit Kat Chocolatory boutique store stocks a constantly changing array of flavoured Kit Kats produced for the fickle Japanese market, including at times strawberry, green tea and wasabi.

The gold bars are essentially aimed at the Christmas gift market – but its release coincides with the one millionth customer of the single-brand store.

The special bars – a limited run of 500 – will also be sold at eight selected upmarket department stores in several Japanese cities.

Dubbed Sublime Gold Kit Kat, it will sell for 2016 yen (US$16) per finger. It is described (apparently without irony) as having “a rich, bitter chocolate taste”.

“We have made it a luxury product,” said Nestle Japan spokeswoman Melanie Kohli.

“Not like you probably remember from your childhood. It’s a special occasion, to celebrate the end of the year.”

The bars come wrapped in a super thin layer of 24-carat gold foil.

It’s not the first time gold has been added to foodstuffs: several limited edition alcoholic beverages have been marketed with gold flakes inside, including cinnamon schnapps Goldschläger.

Gold is harmless when ingested, passing through the body undigested.