This morning I thought I'd introduce a Japanese snack. I don't do many food reviews on this blog, but every now and then one pops up.

Shōga Tsumami (生姜つまみ) are one of my kids' favorite snacks. I usually call them ginger snaps in English, even though they aren't quite like the cookie of the same name. They are more crispy, closer to sweet cracker than cookie, and pack a ginger taste.

Anyway, whatever you call them, they are good. We pick up a bag every now and then and give them out to the kids one at a time for reward for doing things. They are a bit too sweet for me, but the kids love them.

These are on my mind this morning as I look around and see this half full bag on the table. The wife must have rewarded the kids for something or other last night, maybe doing their homework early.

I actually wouldn't recommend these as the best Japanese snack. If you want a more common snack, or a better one in my opinion, a senbei (a rice cracker) is much better. But I don't like sweet things so my opinion is biased. Japanese sweets in general aren't nearly as sweet as US sweets, but even so... I'm just not much for sweet tastes. Crunching on senbei while drinking beer is one of those small pleasures you get living in this country.

But anyway, if you do like sweet things, however, and can find a bag of these at the local import shop, check them out.

David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org. Write him on Twitter or Mastodon.