This is the Naniwa Arare Sazare Ishi, or rice crackers with the appearance of colourful pebble stones.
Each bag contained an assortment of 6 distinct flavours, positioned in a clockwise arrangement from the top:
- Ebi: Displaying a pale pink hue with red speckles, this variant offered a shrimp flavour that gradually developed in prominence throughout each bite, culminating in a satisfying crescendo as it lingered in the finish.
- Togarashi: Presenting a deep red appearance, this option initially resembled an unflavoured rice cracker, yet it swiftly delivered an unexpected heat that emerged in the finish and persisted for a while.
- Kurogoma: Distinguished by an off-white colour adorned with black sesame seeds, this variety boasted the most pronounced flavour among the selections, characterized by the bold nuttiness of the sesame seeds.
- Shio: Exhibiting a pale yellow hue, this cracker had a delicate savoury quality that elegantly enhanced the inherent taste of the rice.
- Shōyu and Nori: Presented in a golden brown shade and enveloped in roasted seaweed, this iteration deviated from the conventional depth of savouriness due to the higher proportion of seaweed, allowing it to take the lead in terms of flavour.
- Nori: With an off-white colour with green speckles, this version embraced the customary umami flavour derived from seaweed, resulting in a highly satisfying profile.
In summary, these rice crackers exhibited a commendable crunch; however, they fell short in delivering the robust depth of flavour that we have encountered in numerous other rice cracker options.
This Naniwa Arare Sazare Ishi contained 100 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Ōsaka, Japan in 2023.