I enjoyed Naniwaya Seika’s Original Canned Kaki no Tane Rice Cracker

When it comes to traditional Japanese rice crackers, “Senbei (煎餅)“, “Okaki (おかき)“, and “Arare (あられ)” are 3 representative types. Even among these, Senbei is most famous and comes in many varieties.

Specifically, traditional Senbei rice crackers have a thick round shape and are commonly flavored with soy sauce or salt, while modern ones are various in shape and flavor. Both types are made baking rice dough, and they aren’t oily at all.

Kaki no Tane (柿の種)

When Japanese people think of modern Senbei rice crackers, many will bring “Kaki no Tane (柿の種)” to mind. You might not know about the classic Japanese rice cracker, but if you hear Kameda Crisps (Amazon.com), some perhaps know what it is.

Kaki no Tane, or Kameda Crisps are orange-colored Japanese rice crackers with a crescent-like shape. Since the dough of the rice snacks is usually baked with soy sauce and red chili pepper, they are savory and a little spicy.

Because of this, Kaki no Tane is known as a standard Otsumami snack in Japan. “Otsumami (おつまみ)” refers to the finger foods and nibbles eaten with alcoholic drinks, and Kaki no Tane goes especially well with beer.

Naniwaya Seika Ganso Kaki no Tane

As for the history, Kaki no Tane was firstly made in 1925 by “Naniwaya Seika (浪花屋製菓)”, a Japanese confectionery company whose head office is in the city of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.

Now, many Japanese confectionery makers are producing Kaki no Tane products and most of them are packaged in plastic bags, though, when I was small, the mainstream were canned ones.

Actually, I got this Naniwaya’s old-fashioned canned Kaki no Tane (Amazon.co.jp) for the first time in a while the other day. The tin can contains 12 bags of Naniwaya’s original Kaki no Tane rice crackers.

Unlike others, Naniwaya Seika’s Kaki no Tane products include “Ganso (元祖)” in the name. The Japanese word, Ganso means to be the originator.

How to open the tin can

The tin can is closed with a removable lid.

The hole is sealed up firmly for preventing moisture, so you need to use something hard to lift up the lid.

I lifted it up with scissors, using force.

The contents

In the can, there were a small folded leaflet and a small sheet of inspection certificate.

Underneath the 2 sheets, 12 paper bags of Kaki no Tane rice crackers were placed.

The taste 

Compared to other Kaki no Tane rice crackers, the Naniwaya’s original one was really savory and not spicy at all.

In conclusion 

If you love Kameda Crisps, Naniwaya Seika’s Kaki no Tane is a must-try, because the latter is the original one.

If you have a plan to visit Niigata Prefecture, the Naniwaya’s canned rice cracker is recommended as a souvenir. It is available at souvenir shops in Niigata, of course on Amazon Japan too!

Kameda Crisps, Sweet Chili, 3.5 Ounce (Pack of 12)	Naniwaya Seika Canned Ganso Kaki no Tane 27g x 12 bags
Amazon.com	Amazon.co.jp