Jibachi Senbei – discover Japan’s unique wasp-infused crackers!

2 min read

6 days ago Pavel

When it comes to weird snacks, Jibachi Senbei, a type of savory crackers infused with whole digger wasps, rank pretty high on the list.
They became popular in the mid-2010s, when the members of an Omachi (in the northwestern part of Nagano Prefecture, at the base of the Northern Japan Alps) digger wasp fan club called Omachi Jibachi Aikokai teamed up with a local baker to create a unique snack that truly incorporated the essence of the digger wasp.
And they meant that quite literally, as the result was a cracker filled with dried digger wasps!

But probably didn’t you known wasps have the highest protein content of any edible insect, even if it’s not like you’re eating Jibachi Senbei for protein, but to enjoy an unique snack that truly incorporated the essence of the digger wasp, yes.
Either way, to create the world-famous wasp crackers, the elderly wasp hunters of Omachi Jibachi Aikokai set traps in the forest, boil and dry the the insects, and then give them to a local baker who incorporates them into crackers.
Digger wasps stings and paralyze other insects before eating them, but after the wasp-loving club members capture their prey, the bugs don’t stand a chance.
They’re then boiled and dried, then added to rice cracker mix, and a hot iron cracker cutter stamps out the finished rounds.
The dough is said to be mildly sweet, while the dried wasps taste similar to burned raisins (but with a bitter, acidic note), which certainly doesn’t sound very appetizing.
Someone also mentions the unsettling sensation of wings and legs getting stuck in his mouth.
The wasp species used to make Jibachi Senbei (Vespula flaviceps or Kurosuzume bachi) are digger wasps safe for human consumption, and the wasp crackers can be found at local markets and select gourmet stores in the Japanese city, with some tourists traveling her specifically to give them a try…