Oranda Senbei by Hashiya: Nemuro’s Uniquely Chewy Hokkaido Snack

Hokkaido has more famous souvenirs than almost any other part of Japan.

Because the island is so vast, each region also has its own specialties, which makes souvenir hunting especially enjoyable.

The products that appear in popularity rankings are often from around Sapporo, but even when you travel east to places such as Abashiri, you will find plenty of souvenirs worth bringing home.

This time, I tried one specialty from Nemuro in eastern Hokkaido.

I found it at Hokkaido Market, an antenna shop inside Asakusa ROX 3G in Tokyo.

Oranda Senbei (Hashiya)

The package describes it as “Nemuro’s snack” and promises “an addictive chewy texture.”

With such a wonderfully local appearance, what would this Oranda Senbei actually taste like? I was extremely curious.

The normal shelf life is apparently about ten days, but the package I bought at the antenna shop had only around three days remaining. Perhaps that was why it was discounted by 30 percent.

The regular price seems to be ¥378 for four pieces.

The packaging may be plain, but the size of the crackers themselves is surprisingly impressive.

This is how large one looks beside a smartphone.

It looks rather like a waffle.

The surface is divided into four sections whose subtle patterns vary between circles, squares, and other shapes.

What did Oranda Senbei taste like?

Now, let’s try it.

The bite is firm and quite unlike an ordinary rice cracker.

Its dense, springy chew takes enough effort that you almost have to pull a piece away with your teeth. Despite being called senbei, it has a gentle sweetness.

The texture is difficult to describe—somewhere between slightly stale corn and a waffle.

Above all, the flavor is extremely simple and rustic.

That plainness may divide opinion, but some people apparently become captivated by the mysterious chewy texture after a single taste and buy large quantities whenever they find it.

It is said to taste even better after toasting or briefly microwaving, and it supposedly pairs very well with honey butter.

There are plenty in the package, so I will have to try that.

Perhaps the best description is that it tastes like the sort of snack you might be served at your grandmother’s house.

It was my first time eating it, yet somehow this strange sweet made me feel nostalgic.

Thank you for the meal!

Oranda Senbei Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer