Naniwaya Seika Original Canned Kaki no Tane Rice Crackers
When it comes to traditional Japanese rice crackers, “Senbei (煎餅)”, “Okaki (おかき)”, and “Arare (あられ)” are 3 representative types that have long been enjoyed in Japan, and among them, Senbei is the most common and comes in many varieties.
Japanese Senbei crackers are usually made of non-glutinous rice called “Uruchi Mai (うるち米)” and traditionally have a somewhat thick, round shape. They are flavored mainly with soy sauce or salt, but modern varieties are available in various shapes and flavors.
Kaki no Tane (柿の種)
When we Japanese think of modern Senbei, many will probably bring to mild “Kaki no Tane (柿の種)“. You might not know about the classic Japanese rice cracker, but if you hear Kameda Crisps, some perhaps know what it is.
Kaki no Tane, also known as Kameda Crisps or Kakipi, are orange-colored crescent-shaped rice crackers. Since the rice dough is baked, brushed with soy sauce, and spiced with red chili pepper, they are savory and a little bit spicy.
Because of this, Kaki no Tane is a standard Otsumami snack in Japan and favored as a snack accompaniment for alcoholic beverages.
By the way, “Otsumami (おつまみ)” is the Japanese umbrella term for the finger foods and nibbles eaten with alcoholic drinks, and Kaki no Tane goes especially well with beer.
Naniwaya Seika Ganso Kaki no Tane
When it comes to history, Kaki no Tane was invented by “Naniwaya Seika (浪花屋製菓)” and first introduced in 1925. Naniwaya Seika is a Japanese confectionery maker whose head office is in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.
Today, Kaki no Tane has become one of the most loved rice crackers in Japan and many food companies are producing it. Most of those products are packaged in plastic bags, though, when I was small, the mainstream were canned ones.
Actually, this time I got this Naniwaya Seika’s classical Kaki no Tane can (Amazon.co.jp) for the first time in a while. It contains 12 bags of Naniwaya’s original Kaki no Tane rice crackers in the tin can.
Unlike others, the name of Naniwaya’s Kaki no Tane products includes the word “Ganso (元祖)” meaning “originator” in Japanese.
How to Open the Tin Can
The tin can is closed with a removable lid.
In order to prevent moisture, the hole is sealed up firmly, so you need to use something hard to lift the lid up.
This time I lifted it up with scissors with a strong force.
Contents
In the can, there were a small folded leaflet and a sheet of inspection certificate.
Underneath the 2 things, 12 paper bags of Kaki no Tane rice crackers were placed neatly.
Taste
These Naniwaya Seika’s original Kaki no Tane only has a mild heat and is really savory compared to other Kaki no Tane rice crackers.
Ingredients
Incidentally, according to the official website of Naniwaya Seika Confectionery, the Kaki no Tane rice cracker is made from Mochi-Gome glutinous rice, non-glutinous rice, starch, soy sauce, starch decomposition product, salt, reduced starch syrup, flavoring, red chili pepper, processed starch, seasoning (including amino acids), caramel pigment, monascus color, paprika pigment, and emulsifier.
Where to Buy
If you love Kameda Crisps, Naniwaya Seika’s Kaki no Tane is a must-try, because the latter is the original.
Or if you have a plan to visit Niigata Prefecture, the Naniwaya’s Kaki no Tane can is recommended for your souvenir or gift. It can be found at supermarkets and souvenir shops in Niigata.
