This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
These sweets have unique names and sound somehow adorable and delicious. Two of the most representative local sweets from Yamagata Prefecture are "Karakara Senbei" from the Shonai region and "Milk Cake" from the inland Okitama region
So, what kind of sweets are they? You wouldn't be able to imagine what they are just from the name, but we'll introduce you to some delicious sweets that both children and adults love!
Please read to the end. I guarantee you'll want to try it!
What kind of rice cracker is Karakara Senbei?
Photo by ikoke
The lord of the Sakai family, who ruled the Shonai domain during the Edo period, loved sweets very much and encouraged the making of sweet treats
As a result, a large number of Japanese sweets (dagashi) were produced in the Shonai domain
Even today, I hear that there are still many sweet confections used for celebrations and high-end Japanese sweets in the Shonai region that are very sweet
One of them is the "Karakara Senbei." The reason it makes a rattling sound when you shake it is because there is a "toy" inside
The name comes from the "clack" sound that the rice cracker makes when shaken, and it is a cute snack that is very popular with children.
On a personal note, when I was little, my father bought it for me as a souvenir on a business trip, and I remember cracking it open with excitement
Photo by ikoke
When you break the rice cracker, you'll find an old-fashioned toy wrapped in washi paper inside
what's inside ! But don't just break it open, make sure you eat it properly , as the rice cracker itself is also very delicious.
They enjoy the toys so much that they end up eating them one by one!
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What is the secret behind the deliciousness of Karakara Senbei?
Photo by ikoke
When you think of rice crackers, you may imagine them as being salty, but karakara rice crackers are made only from wheat and sugar, and contain no additives, making them a popular sweet treat that can be safely given to young children
Its simple sweetness is delicious and you won't get tired of it. It is made with 100% brown sugar from Yonaguni Island, Okinawa
It used to be called Untoku Senbei and was sold as a lucky charm for the New Year. It is said that people were not satisfied with just round rice crackers, so they started folding them from three sides while they were still soft after baking and putting a small lucky charm inside
In the past, it was said that lead dolls of Daikoku-sama and soldiers were inside, but nowadays, small items that are safe from food hygiene standpoints are carefully wrapped in Japanese paper
When I popped it this time, what came out was a small folded paper balloon, and the second one had a cute bell inside that looked like it could be attached to a wallet.I immediately inflated the paper balloon and had a nostalgic time playing with it, popping it back and forth
The toys are great! They're delicious to eat! They're cheap snacks.
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Where can I buy Karakara Senbei?
Karakara Senbei can also be purchased from major online shopping sites
Of course, you can order it from the store that manufactures and sells it, or you can buy it directly from the store, so we'd like to introduce it to you
INFORMATION
Name: Usami Senbei Shop
Address: 10-10 Nishikicho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, 992-0031
Phone number: 0235-22-0187
Business hours: 8:00-17:00 Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
a long-loved souvenir representative of Yamagata Prefecture, a gently sweet milk confectionery made primarily from milk .
The manufacturer, Nippon Milk, was founded in 1919 and the confectionery is made by adding sugar to a by-product of powdered milk production
Although it is called Milk Cake, the product name is listed as Candy
Although it's called a candy, it doesn't feel like candy, but rather has a crunchy texture that you can chew. It doesn't stick to your teeth, making it very easy to eat and a nostalgic milk-flavored snack
Because it is rich in milk-derived protein and calcium, it seems to be popular as a snack for young children as "edible milk."
Recently, there are milk cakes that are even they are becoming increasingly popular as souvenirs
Business hours: 8:30-17:30 Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
GOOGLE MAP
summary
There are many sweets that represent Yamagata Prefecture, but we have introduced two of them: "Karakara Senbei,""Oshidori Milk Cake," which represents the Okitama region
Both sweets have a long history and have been loved by people from outside the prefecture as well as locals for a long time
In particular, it seems to be one of the top souvenirs that people who call Yamagata home want to buy every time they visit their hometown
A nostalgic, simple sweet. It contains almost no additives and can be enjoyed safely by people of all ages, so why not try this local Yamagata sweet?
Enjoy these sweets with tea, which will make you feel nostalgic and warm and cozy
I'm originally from Tokyo, but I've lived in Yamagata Prefecture for 30 years. Nowadays, I am able to speak the dialect and become a local. He goes to the nearby prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima about two to three days a month to gather information. I belong to the middle-aged group who loves cats, local sake, and side dishes. (The icon is a beloved cat)
![Mogami safflower](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAJYAAACWAQAAAAAUekxPAAAAAnRSTlMAAHaTzTgAAAAaSURBVEjH7cExAQAAAMKg9U9tDQ+gAACAdwMLuAABXZHjmQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg== ""Mogami safflower" certified as a Japanese heritage and Japanese agricultural heritage [Yamagata Prefecture]")
![Mogami safflower](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/30121446_m-1-150x150.jpg.webp ""Mogami safflower" certified as a Japanese heritage and Japanese agricultural heritage [Yamagata Prefecture]")
