Dutch rice crackers

[Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture] Enjoy Tohoku's famous sweets at "Holland Senbei FACTORY"! Experience baking and seasoning yourself

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  • Last updated: 2022.01.28

The specialties of Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture are the limited express Inaho and Dutch rice crackers. If you live in Tokyo, it's likely that this is the first time you've heard of either.

Limited Express Inaho is a limited express train of JR East that connects Niigata, Sakata, and Akita along the Sea of ​​Japan. From October 27, 2017, a new color "Luri" was released and has been well received. Green cars are also attracting attention for being particularly comfortable.

Well, this time we will not be focusing on the limited express Inaho, but rather on the local famous confectionery, ``Oranda Senbei''. Dutch senbei is known as a locally produced confectionery not only in Yamagata but also in Tohoku.

These Dutch rice crackers are made by Sakata Beika in Yamagata Prefecture. In Sakata City, there is the Dutch Senbei Factory, where you can see how rice crackers are actually made and even bake them yourself.

This time, we will introduce a factory that makes Dutch rice crackers, one of Tohoku's specialties.

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The Dutch rice cracker factory is very long!

"Dutch Senbei FACTORY" is very long with a total length of 545m. It's a straight road so long that you can't see the goal. So you don't have to worry about your child getting lost.

The reason why the factory is so long is because the lines are needed to dry the rice crackers.
If you look down from the rooftop, you can clearly see the length.

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My cheeks fall into freshly made Dutch rice crackers.

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Along the way, there is a tasting corner for freshly made mitarashi dango and Dutch rice crackers.
Tasting is done by opening the glass door and picking it up. There are towels and trash cans on the side, making it hygienic.

Freshly made dango and rice crackers are exceptionally delicious. Many people eat several. This factory is the only place where you can eat freshly produced Dutch rice crackers.

See up close how Dutch rice crackers are made

The manufacturing process for Dutch rice crackers is making the dough, baking it, seasoning it, and packaging it. You can watch this work through the window. It's fun to watch the dough being cut out endlessly.

You can see that the excess dough after cutting the molds is not thrown away, but is returned to be mixed with the dough for cutting.

For Dutch rice crackers, the flavor and degree of grilling are adjusted by hand. The work is extremely detailed and painstaking. You can see for yourself why Dutch rice crackers have continued to be loved by the people of Tohoku with the same taste since 1963.

He has also been interviewed on NHK.

Factory tours are cheap and free if you become a member.

The entrance fee to "Holland Senbei Factory" is very cheap.

・General → 300 yen
・Junior high school students → 200 yen
・Elementary school students and younger ・Seniors (over 65 years old) → Free

If you fill out a factory member card at the reception desk, the general public and junior high school students can enter for free.

There are exhibits that will keep you entertained.

There are also many exhibits that you can enjoy. There are also tips on how to enjoy rice crackers and trivia (such as the difference between rice crackers, arare, and senbei).

There are also quizzes, such as, ``How many Dutch rice crackers can you make from one bale (60 kg) of rice?'' The answer is 16,200 pieces.

In this way, the exhibition continues to keep you entertained. It can be enjoyed by everyone from children to adults.

What is the charm of Dutch rice crackers?

Dutch rice crackers use rice from the local Shonai region. Dutch is not a country, it's a dialect. The word ``Orada (our meaning) rice cracker'' was corrupted and became Dutch rice cracker.

Dutch rice crackers are characterized by their thinness of 3mm. Also, the flavor is so strong that it almost feels salty.

The appeal of Dutch rice crackers is that they are thin, easy to eat, and have a distinct flavor that is irresistible.

Try baking your own rice crackers

On the second floor, up the stairs at the exit, you can try your hand at making and seasoning rice crackers.

Rice cracker making experience


You can get 3 pieces of rice cracker dough (400 yen).

Grill each piece one by one on the grill. Repeat over and over again, turning it over once every 3 seconds. Be careful not to let it cook for more than 3 seconds as it will burn.

Once baked, eat with soy sauce. At first, we recommend enjoying the taste of the rice crackers themselves without adding soy sauce.

Rice cracker dough is sold for home use. We also sell grills, so if you buy a set, you can bake rice crackers at home.

Seasoning experience

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To season, add your favorite flavor and rice crackers to the cup and shake it. It tastes like McDonald's crispy fries.

There are about 20 flavors. Chocolate and salted plum flavors are popular.

There are two cups available, so you can choose two flavors. The fee is 600 yen.

Summary about Dutch Senbei FACTORY

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This time, I introduced "Holland Senbei FACTORY". There are many exhibits along the long hallway, all of which are elaborately designed, so you can enjoy it without getting bored.

After watching the process of baking senbei, you can actually eat freshly baked senbei. You can't taste freshly made Dutch rice crackers anywhere else.

It's especially interesting to try baking and seasoning your own food. There is a cafe on the second floor, where you can enjoy pancakes and Japanese sweets made with the same local Shonai rice as Oranda Senbei.

Whether you've been eating Dutch rice crackers for a long time or are just learning about their existence for the first time, this is a spot that everyone can enjoy.

INFORMATION

nameDutch rice cracker FACTORY
location2-24 Ryobacho, Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture 998-0832
telephone number0234-25-0017
business hours9:00-16:00 (last entry until 15:40)
Official URLhttp://www.sakatabeika.co.jp/factory/
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