9 Delicious Japanese Rice Cracker Brands You Must Try in Singapore

Picture this: you’re at work, it’s 4pm in the afternoon and your tummy is rumbling. Then you grab a snack which may include sweets, biscuits, chocolates, cakes, doughnuts, curry puffs – basically foods which are high in fat and sugar. But do you know that frequent snacking could cause weight gain?

In this case, what should one look out for in a healthier snack? According to dietitian Derrick Ong, healthier snacks should be lower in calories (generally between 100-200 kcal per serving), contain adequate amounts of either protein and/or fibre to promote satiety, and preferably also contain vitamins and minerals. Rice snacks are a wise choice compared to the usual high fat and sugar snacks, provided that the correct varieties are chosen. It can be eaten on their own without too much worry as each cracker serving is normally less than 100 kcal.

As part of an awareness campaign to promote rice crackers locally, the Japan Rice and Rice Industry Export Promotion Association (JRE) organized a one-day event last week, featuring different kinds of rice crackers. The event featured Japanese rice, and had local chefs create original recipes by fusing Japanese rice with local ingredients in a public cooking demonstration.

Also known as rice ‘Okaki’ or ‘Senbei’ in Japanese, rice crackers vary in flavour, texture, shape and size. The event shared valuable nutritional information for Singaporeans and feature rice crackers that may or may not be sold locally yet. Free sampling was made and members of the public got the to taste Japanese rice crackers of various flavours from different prefectures in Japan, and learn about the special features that make each of them unique.

Other than sampling of the crackers, Mr Derrick Ong of Eat Right Nutrition Consultancy also gave a small talk on his insights about snacking healthily.

Another highlight of the event was the chef demonstrations by Chef Javed from Punjab Grill and Chef Cai Li from Spoonful. The renowned chef will showcase how rice crackers can be eaten or paired with other food items.

Here are 9 snack brands you should check out.

1. AMANOYA CORPORATION
Website: http://www.e-amanoya.co.jp/
Available in Iroha Mart, Isetan Jurong, FairPrice Finest, Meidiya

Founded in 1951, from Tokyo. Amanoya started manufacturing fried rice cracker from 1954. Kabukiage, a traditional fried and flavoured with soy sauce, was invented in 1960.

2. IWATSUKA CONFECTIONERY CO LTD
Website: http://www.iwatsukaseika.co.jp/index.shtml
Available in Iroha Mart, Japan Association, Isetan Jurong, Meidiya, FairPrice Finest

Founded in 1947 at Niigata, IWATSUKA CONFECTIONERY CO LTD is celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. They use 100% Japanese rice for the ingredients. They work with a group of farmers to supply the ingredients. One of their signature product, RICE STYLE, is gluten-free and rich in fibres.

3. ECHIGO SEIKA CO.,LTD
Website: http://www.echigoseika.co.jp/
Available in Iroha Mart, Daiso, Meidiya, FairPrice Finest

Founded in 1947 at Niigata, ECHIGO SEIKA CO.,LTD has been one of the most popular company for rice products. They produce a wide range of rice products including rice crackers, dried noodles, vacuum packed rice, rice cakes and so on.

4. OSAMA RICE CRACKER CO., LTD
Website: http://osama-do.co.jp/index.html

Founded in 1924, OSAMA RICE CRACKER CO., LTD specialises in okaki, a Japanese rice cracker that is only made from rice and salt. They are the first to export their products to Europe in 1950. Their okaki products are Halal-certified and vegetarian.

5. KINGODO SEIKA CO., LTD
Website: http://kingodo.co.jp/
Available in Iroha Mart, Daiso, Meidiya, FairPrice Finest, Isetan Jurong, Japan Association

Founded in 1950, Tokyo, KINGODO SEIKA CO., LTD is committed to deliver high quality of rice cracker. They use specially selected Japanese rice and US rice as their main ingredients. In order to avoid the unwanted odour from steamed rice cake, they always use clean water to wash the rice.

6. NARUMIYA
Website: http://www.narumiya.co.jp/index.html

Founded in 1923 at Kyoto, NARUMIYA has been producing rice crackers using 100% of Japanese rice. Not only do they manufacture the usual rice crackers, they also produce small rice crackers to put as rice toppings as well. Their products are loved by people in Kyoto as snack with tea.

7. BONCHI CO., LTD
Website: http://www.bonchicorp.co.jp/
Available in Isetan Jurong, Japan Association, Daiso, Meidiya, FairPrice Finest

Founded in 1931 at Tokyo, BONCHI CO., LTD has been inventing a variety of rice crackers. Their signature products were carefully selected for the event and if you get a chance, you must try the Uni (sea-urchin) flavoured rice cracker.

8. MORIHAKU CO.,LTD
Website: http://www.morihaku.jp/

Founded in 1948 at Gifu City, MORIHAKU CO. is always trying to invent new rice cracker flavour while keeping the traditional method. They offer a wide range of flavour such as salmon mayonaise, ebi-mentaiko, tom yam goong, cheese curry, chilli oil etc.

9. BOURBON CORPORATION
Website: http://www.bourbon.co.jp/
Available in Iroha Mart, Isetan Jurong, Japan Association, Meidiya, FairPrice Finest

Bourbon was founded in 1924 under the name Kita Nihon Seika (North Japan Confectionery). It started making candy drops using a Japanese machine and slowly rise to popularity and entered the candy market in 1984 with its famous cheese okaki, a perfect mixture of shoyu rice crackers and cheese within.

This post was brought to you by Japan Rice and Rice Industry Export Promotion Association.