This Kishu Kumano Wakayama Ebi Senbei Ume Shio was a limited release for Wakayama prefecture. They were shrimp crackers flavoured with salt and nankou ume, for which Wakayama is the biggest producer.
Each cracker measured around 6 cm in length, with a vivid golden orange hue adorned with red speckles and a faint oil aroma. Upon tasting, the noticeable acidity from the sour powder coating was swiftly followed by a profound umami savouriness. This savouriness carried a delicate undercurrent of ebi flavour, which remained subtle compared to more shrimp-focused ebi senbei. Towards the finish, the ume flavour resurfaced, accompanied by the invigorating tartness inherent to the fruit, bringing about a refreshing conclusion.
We greatly enjoyed the pronounced savoury orientation of this snack, even with the fruity infusion of ume. The dynamic interplay between sourness and savouriness enticed us to repeatedly reach for another cracker.
This Kishu Kumano Wakayama Ebi Senbei Ume Shio contained 68 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Miyazaki, Japan in 2023.