| Product: |
Sakata Rice Crackers |
| Date: |
06/07/05 (1162 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Keeps a one year old happy, good finger food, nice for a nibble
Disadvantages: None I can think of
Before I get started, I have to warn you that I have been in Tesco's once again, so look away now if you don't want to know what I bought this time.
If you are still here that I'll carry on…the other day I was looking for something different for my son to nibble on, as before he's been eating breadsticks and Cow & Gate toddler biscuits and was rapidly getting bored.
As I was walking down the biscuit isle towards the top where the gluten free range is I spotted Mr Sato's authentic rice crackers made by SAKATA™ and a range of different flavours, picking up the 'Original' flavour, I finished off my shopping and headed home.
~~What Are They?~~
Well, they are little wafer discs not dissimilar to the texture of prawn crackers but a bit crunchier and crispier.
The discs are approximately 1 inch in diameter and about 1 millimetre thick.
Mr Sato's was released on to the UK market in June 2005, so not many people may have heard of them.
~~The Packaging~~
The packaging isn't the most eye-catching on the shelf.
The packaging is clear with a white band around the centre with a white strip on one side and a blue strip on the other side, a big blue strip at the bottom of the packet and black to the ends where the packet is sealed.
There is a black and white picture to the front and either side as well as the brand name and informing me that I have bought the 'Original' flavour.
Inside is a plastic ridged container/tray that contains the crackers, there are 64 crackers in a pack (yes, I counted them all) or 100 grams as the packet tells me.
SAKATA™ informs the consumer that these crackers can be traced back to the Japanese village of Sakata where the SATO brothers created the original crispy usu-yaki rice cracker.
The blue band at the back has various pieces of information, see below.
~~My Packet~~
I bought the 'Original' flavour because of the low salt count. To open the pack is a relatively easy task of pulling apart the seams at one end and pulling the tray out that contains the crackers.
~~Information~~
The packet informs me that these crackers contain less than 3% fat, are made with natural ingredients, gluten free and are baked not fried.
SAKATA™ advise that this packet contains 4 servings (16 crackers per serving) and once opened they should be stored in an air tight container and in a cool dry place.
Whilst these are gluten free, the manufacturers advise that the crackers may contain traces of Tree nut, dairy or seed. So if you are allergic to any of the above, I do not recommend that you eat these.
They are also suitable for vegetarians.
The best before date on these is March 2006, so a fairly good shelf life there.
~~Flavours~~
There are four different flavours for the more adventurous of people out there to try and they are:
Seaweed
Original
Cracked Pepper
Golden Sesame
Please note that I've not tried the other three flavours, but if anyone has I would be pleased to hear what they taste like.
~~Nutritional Information~~
I will give you a brief outline of what a serving will provide but will try not to bore you rigid.
Energy - 102 calories
Protein - 1.7 grams
Fat - 0.7 grams
Carbohydrate - 22.0 grams
Sodium - 54 milligrams
~~Price and Availability~~
I bought these at Tesco for the sum of £1.18 pence, which works out at 1.84 pence a cracker.
As these are a new product that I have bought I'm not too sure if they are available else where, although I wouldn't be surprised if you couldn't get them at other supermarkets and health food shops.
~~Technical Stuff~~
SAKATA™ are based in Australia and the crackers are made in Australia.
Enquires regarding this product you should contact:
SAKATA Rice Snacks Australia PTY Ltd
145 Fitzgerald Road
Laverton North
Victoria 3026
Australia
Tel: 61 (03) 9369 4800
Fax: 61 (03) 9369 8188
Customer Care Line: 1800 725 282 (Australian Residents Only)
For more information you can also view their website at www.SAKATA.com.au this website is rather good as it has many features, one of which is a games feature showing 80's arcade games.
~~Tea's Taste Test~~
Upon placing one of the crackers in my mouth, I bite down and I am met at once by a nice crunchy texture and there is a wonderfully pleasant toasted rice taste with a subtle saltiness.
The cracker breaks up easily once chewed and dissolves nicely in the mouth to leave a pleasant rice flavour in your mouth.
I liked the fact that these crackers didn't leave you gasping for a drink of water afterwards; they weren't on the dry side one bit as you'd expect.
~~Tea and Jack's Verdict~~
Once I had got home with my little one, it was time for a taste test. Upon handing one to Jack, he looked quizzically at it and passed it from one hand to the next before snapping it in half munching on it.
Jack did appear to enjoy these but I think he struggled with the fact that they were harder than he was used to; he certainly didn't turn his nose up at having a second one, a third one or a fourth for that matter, so thumbs up from him I think.
As for me, these aren't something that I would normally eat as I would expect them to be very dry, however I was pleasantly surprised, they were tasty and the salt wasn't overpowering just nice and subtle.
Unlike my son, I don't think I could eat these all the time but on the odd occasion I think they'd be a nice treat.
~~Would I Buy Them Again?~~
My answer would most definitely be 'Yes' partly because Jack likes them and also because if I don't fancy anything fattening, I can have a nibble on these.
I would like to add at this point, that I have eaten rice cakes in the past to which they tasted like cardboard, so I was a bit dubious about trying the crackers but all in all I am glad that I did as they didn't taste anything like cardboard.
Also, I don't think £1.18 is going to break the bank as I am fairly sure these will last a fairly long time.
Summary: All in all these are a tasty, low fat, easy snack that anyone can enjoy.
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