Rice cracker

A rice cracker is an East Asian cracker made from rice flour. Rice crackers are fried or baked and often puffed and/or brushed with soy sauce or vinegar to create a smooth texture.

Rice crackers are often eaten as part of trail mixes along with other ingredients such as wasabi peas, nuts, dried and salted edamame, and sesame sticks. Some may also be wrapped in seaweed.

In addition to in trail mixes or by themselves, they are traditionally served with green tea, alcoholic beverages, and/or as a side to be eaten with soup or salad.

Rice crackers, assorted varieties

History

Rice crackers are thought to have originated during China's Han Dynasty (c. 202 BC). They were popularized in Japan during the Edo period, however records of senbei being served to houseguests as a token of courtesy date back to the Tang dynasty.

Types

Rice crackers come in many varieties and shapes. Some of the most popular are listed below.

Japan

• Beika (米菓), a dry Japanese confectionery made from rice
  • Arare (food) (あられ), a stone-shaped, bite-sized Japanese rice cracker
    • Oriibu no hana ('olive flower')
  • Senbei (せんべい), a flat disk-shaped, palm-sized cracker traditionally eaten with green tea
  • Kaki no tane, small, seasoned crescent-shape snacks that bare a resemblance to peanuts

Indonesia

• Rengginang, a thick cracker made from sticky rice granules

See also

• Puffed grain
  • Puffed rice
• Rice flour