Rice crackers are thought to have originated during China's Han dynasty (c. 202 BC). Later, during the Tang dynasty, there are records of senbei being served to houseguests as a token of courtesy.1 In Japan, they were popularized during the Edo period.2 The Japanese Soka senbei (made in Soka City, Saitama Prefecture) is widely considered to be the first modern rice cracker.34
Rice crackers are traditionally served with soup or salad, along with green tea and/ or alcoholic beverages.5 In the western world, they are often eaten as a snack food in trail mixes along with ingredients such as wasabi peas, nuts, dried and salted edamame, and sesame sticks.
Rice crackers are produced in several varieties and shapes. Some of the most popular are listed below.67
"What is Senbei? The Japanese Rice Crackers With a 1000 Year History - TokyoTreat Blog". TokyoTreat: Japanese Candy & Snacks Subscription Boxes. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2023-05-08. https://tokyotreat.com/blog/what-is-senbei-japanese-rice-crackers-with-a-1000-year-history ↩
"Snack Time! Know Your Japanese Rice Crackers | Guidable". Guidable Guidable (in Japanese). 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2023-05-08. https://guidable.co/things_to_do/food_drink/snack-time-know-your-japanese-rice-crackers/ ↩
"草加せんべいの歴史と現在 (Soka rice cracker of history and current)". 草加市役所 (Soka City Hall). Archived from the original on 30 May 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20140530011359/http://www.city.soka.saitama.jp/cont/s1403/a02/a03/01.html ↩
"Traditional Japanese snack: "Soka Senbei"|CHOCOTABI SAITAMA". CHOCOTABI SAITAMA (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-18. https://en.chocotabi-saitama.com/magazine/71 ↩
"Japanese Rice Cracker Recipe: 3 Tips for Making Rice Crackers". Masterclass. May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/rice-cracker-recipe# ↩
"Senbei, Arare, and Okaki: not your conventional rice crackers". Arigato Travel. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2023-05-08. https://arigatojapan.co.jp/senbei-arare-and-okaki-not-your-conventional-rice-crackers/ ↩
Lin, Lisa (2021-04-09). "A Guide to Asian Rice Crackers". Healthy Nibbles by Lisa Lin. Retrieved 2023-05-08. https://healthynibblesandbits.com/asian-rice-crackers/ ↩
"Different Types of Senbei (Japanese Crackers)". gurunavi.com. Retrieved 2023-12-18. https://gurunavi.com/en/japanfoodie/2017/04/different-types-of-senbei.html ↩
Aisyah, Yuharrani (2020-11-23). "Resep Kerupuk Gendar dari Nasi Sisa, Tanpa Garam Bleng dan Penyedap". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-03-11. https://www.kompas.com/food/read/2020/11/23/170700875/resep-kerupuk-gendar-dari-nasi-sisa-tanpa-garam-bleng-dan-penyedap ↩