Taiko Senbei: Nanao’s Japanese Drum-like Wheat Cracker
Nanao Seika (七尾製菓) is a Fukuoka-based confectionery maker that is Japan’s number 1 in the market of wheat-based baked confections, and this Taiko Senbei (太鼓せんべい) is among their signature products.
Taiko Senbei (太鼓せんべい)
Based on Wikipedia, Nanao Seika/Confectionery started to sell Taiko Senbei in 1978, but even now, the snack has been gradually increasing sales and getting new customers.
The product is available nationwide, and I got this at a nearby supermarket for 198 yen. As Nanao boasts wheat-based baked confections, this one is also that kind.
As you may already know, Senbei (せんべい/煎餅) is a traditional Japanese cracker made from non-glutinous rice called Uruchi (うるち). But it has some exceptions, and one uses wheat flour instead of rice.
And what represents that variant is Nanbu Senbei (南部せんべい), which is savory and sweet and similar to Taiko Senbei, with peanuts embedded. But unlike the former, this one is thick and resembles Taiko/太鼓 or a Japanese drum.
According to the maker’s official site, they created these drum-like crackers inspired by Fukuoka Prefecture’s historic festival, Kokura Gion Daiko/小倉祇園太鼓 (Youtube results). Not only the shape but the texture is also distinctive, and the snack is so yummy!
Ingredients/Nutrition Facts
|
Wheat flour, Sugar, Peanut, Hen’s egg, Margarine, Fructose, Dextrose, Dextrin, Salt, Swelling agent, Emulsifier (Partially including Wheat, Egg, Peanut, and Soybean) |
Nutritional Values
| Calories | 466 kcal |
| Protein | 10.7 g |
| Fat | 16.3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 69.1 g |
| Salt Equivalents | 0.6 g |
