A popular snack in Iwate, Japan: Nanbu Senbei

This time, I introduce a popular snack in Iwate pref, Japan, ‘Nanbu Senbei (南部煎餅)’ as a post of #monthlytopic.

A crisp and plain taste snack, Nanbu Senbei is a representative snack in Iwate, and of course, it is familiar to local people. There are some shops in my hometown but I like this shop, Shirasawa Senbeiten (白沢せんべい店).

Shirasawa Senbeiten

This shop is a long-standing Nanbu Senbei shop. They have various flavors of Nanbu Senbei. There are the most popular ones, sesame, soy source, and peanuts, and there are some strange flavors like a Reimen (Spicy and Cold rice noodle in Iwate). And thus, if you get bored with classic flavors, you can try a new one.

As the expiration date is almost two months, I recommend choosing it as a souvenir. Especially, such a set like below is the best because it has various flavors and a nice package.

Nanbu Senbei is a classic. So you may feel it’s old and plain but it’s a really tasty snack. Try to eat it!

Hi, @Ivi_Ge . I remembered this via our Senbei talk. Please check this as a reference for your next chance.

List: Nenbu Senbei Shops

[Japanese] 南部煎餅

今月のお題は「地元のお菓子」ということで、岩手県からは人気の煎餅菓子、南部煎餅を紹介します。南部煎餅はぱりっとした食感が美味しい岩手の代表的なお土産煎餅で、もちろん各家庭でのおやつとしても親しまれています。南部煎餅を販売している会社は様々ありますが、私がよく利用するのが白沢せんべい店です。

白沢せんべい店は老舗の南部煎餅屋さんで、様々な種類の南部煎餅があります。最も代表的なごま、しょうゆ、人気のピーナッツはもちろんのこと、冷麺などの変わり種などもあります。

南部煎餅は賞味期限が約2ヶ月程とかなり長目なのでお土産にもおすすめです。特にこちらのような4種セットはいろいろな味が楽しめる上、パッケージもきれいなので喜ばれるのではないかと思います。

お手軽で美味しい南部煎餅は少し古めかしくて地味に感じるかもしれませんが、食べてみるととっても美味しいお菓子です。機会があればぜひお試し下さい。

List: 南部煎餅のお店

#monthlytopic

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@HiroyukiTakisawa I have tried Senbei but not Nanbu Senbei. It looks delicious. I would love to try Soy Sauce and Reimen flavor. Agree that with long life and nice package, Nanbu Senbei is perfect for souvenir.

About the shop, I saw some paper cups are provided. What are they for? Customers can try some tea?

Thank you for sharing this post with us.

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mouth watering pic bro . @HiroyukiTakisawa thanks for share with details its really help to other understand more deeply about any topic .

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Hi, @Ant_Bad_Yogi

You have a good eye. In this shop, we can taste some of Senbei. That time, we can drink green tea with Senbei. Their combination is perfect!

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You are welcome @MahabubMunna
If you have a chance to eat, try it by all means!

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Hi @HiroyukiTakisawa Even though I’ve never heard of this kind of dry Snacks, it looks tasty. As a middle East Jordanian citizen, we don’t have in our markets like those Snacks. You know cultures is different to each Nation. I am thinking this kind of snacks available only in East Asians countries. Do you think they are available in Europe fore example ? Or can they be exported to other countries?

Thanks Sir.

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Hello, @OSAMA_1

Thank you for your comment.

I don’t know in reality but I guess local shops find it difficult to export because Senbei is a very delicate snack. However I think there are similar snacks if there is a Japanese or Asian food shop in your country. Such kind of snacks is a popular snack in Japan. Definitely there is a demand:-)

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@HiroyukiTakisawa さん

ピーナツ入りは最強ですね。 :wink: :+1:

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@Izumi さん

そうそう、削りではなく丸の方ですね。あの食感がたまらない!

ごまも久しぶりに食べるとすっごく美味しいですし、侮れません。とにかく出来たて開封したてのパリパリの状態をいただくのがポイントかと思います。

出来たてを食べるなら体験も兼ねて盛岡手づくり村に行くのも楽しいですよ!

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@Izumi thanks for such a detailed post on Nanbu Senbei. The snack, as you mentioned is an old one. The store too seems very old and famous, from the cash register shown in one of the pictures. The snacks look varied, colorful and are appealing. A good suggestion to carry Nanu Senbei as souvenirs.

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@HiroyukiTakisawa さん

おせんべいの焼き立ては確実に美味しいですね。盛岡手づくり村、とても楽しそうです。マップにマーキングしておきます。 :wink:

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@giribpai

Thank you for your comment. The old register in the photo is supposed to be for display if I guess from the side by side. What do you think? @HiroyukiTakisawa

Nanbusenbei are made from wheat flour, not rice flour. If you come to Japan, try and compare rice crackers and Nanbusenbei.

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Thank you for tagging me @Izumi

Hi, @giribpai Thank you for your comment.

That old cash register is just an exhibit. But the shop used to it in the past. It tells us the history of shop:-)

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Hello @HiroyukiTakisawa , amazing post, thank you for bringing me back to Japan with your great posts. I like senbei or might be it better to say I love it. This was one of my favorite snacks in Japan. When I go there next time I will try Nanbu senbei!

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Hi, @Ivi_Ge

It sounds great!

If you have time, I recommend going here, Morioka Handcrafts Village. We can experience to make Senbei and eat it in place. There is a good hot-spring area near there too. And of course, I’ll guide you;-)

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It sounds great @HiroyukiTakisawa . You will be the best Local Guide, I am sure. I will let you know when I plan my trip to Japan.

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I’ve had these with cracked black pepper in them.

The thing I like most about this store is their old fashioned mechanical cash register. You don’t see many of these old mechanical computers anymore :).

Paul

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looks similar to cookies @HiroyukiTakisawa

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Hi, @PaulPavlinovich

Black pepper?! It sounds interesting! I’ll look for it and try it soon:-)

Yes, nowadays those cash registers are not effective but they are really fashionable objects. They are suited for exhibition at a classic shop like this shop.

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Hello @AbdullahAM

Senbei looks similar to cookies but the taste is completely different. Because Senbei is basically salty taste and doesn’t include a lot of oil like butter or olive.
I hope you to try Senbei in the future:-)

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