Age Senbei: Kabuki Age vs. Bonchi Age Fried Crackers
Senbei is a cracker made from the staple of the Japanese diet, Uruchi (non-glutinous) rice, traditionally seasoned with soy sauce or salt.
The snack comes in several types, and Age Senbei (揚げせんべい) is among them.
Age Senbei (揚げ煎餅)
In its name, Age (揚げ) is the word for fry in English, and Age Senbei is the generic name for deep-fried Japanese rice crackers.
Those treats come in various varieties, and among others, Kabuki Age (歌舞伎揚) and Bonchi Age (ぼんち揚) are the best known.
Kabuki Age (歌舞伎揚)
Introduced in 1960 by the Tokyo-based confectionery company Amanoya (天乃屋), Kabuki Age is the best-recognized Age Senbei in the Kanto region around Tokyo.
This cracker has ten kinds of designs using the family crests of Kabuki engraved on the surface.
The snack has a sweet soy sauce flavor, featuring its pleasantly crunchy texture. Kabuki Age is good in all and arguably among the best Senbei.
Bonchi Age (ぼんち揚)
On the other hand, produced by the Osaka-based confectionery maker Bonchi (ぼんち), Bonchi Age is the most familiar Age Senbei to those living in the Kansai region.
Bonchi Age went on the market in 1960, the same year as Amanoya Kabuki Age, but this cracker is not so tough compared to Kabuki Age.
These are crispy, savory snacks brushed with sweet soy sauce and packed with umami from bonito and kombu.
(Reference Page: Wikipedia 煎餅 )
