A Rustic Rice Cracker Made with Local Ingredients
Age Ohegi is a traditional type of okaki, a Japanese rice cracker made from glutinous rice. Its dough combines glutinous rice grown in Mima, Tokushima Prefecture, with ingredients such as brown sugar, Naruto Kintoki sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, and millet. These additions give the crackers their distinctive flavor and reflect the variety of grains and local produce traditionally used in the region’s home cooking.
The mixture is pounded into mochi, or sticky rice dough, using a traditional pounding method. The dough is then sliced into thin pieces, a process known as hegi, before being carefully dried. Finally, the slices are fried in refined soybean oil until crisp and golden.
Handcrafted with Care in the Mountains of Tsurugi
Age Ohegi is made by Fujiya, a traditional confectionery workshop located in Tsurugi Town, in the foothills of Mount Tsurugi, one of Shikoku’s celebrated sacred mountains. With a history spanning approximately 100 years, Fujiya creates sweets inspired by the ingredients, traditional foods, and agricultural culture of Awa, the historical name for much of present-day Tokushima Prefecture.
The workshop also uses underground water drawn from the foothills of Mount Tsurugi. This connection to the local natural environment is part of the character of its regional products, which draw on the food traditions of Tokushima’s mountain communities.
A Satisfying Crunch and Comforting Flavor
The careful drying and frying process gives Age Ohegi its crisp texture and inviting roasted aroma. The combination of glutinous rice with ingredients such as brown sugar, sweet potato, sesame, and millet creates a rustic flavor that is both savory and gently sweet, depending on the ingredients in each variety.
Unlike delicate Western-style biscuits, these traditional rice crackers have a hearty, uncomplicated character. Their crisp bite makes them enjoyable as a snack between sightseeing stops, while their nostalgic taste recalls the simple homemade treats once prepared in rural Japanese households.
Discover the Traditional Sweets of Tokushima
Fujiya also produces Inaka Hegi Mochi, another rustic specialty, as well as u irō, a traditional Japanese confection made from ingredients such as rice flour and sugar. These products reflect the workshop’s commitment to preserving the flavors and techniques associated with Tokushima’s regional food culture.
For travelers exploring Tsurugi Town, the Oboke and Koboke gorges, or the Iya Valley, Age Ohegi is a distinctive regional snack worth seeking out. Enjoy it with green tea or coffee, or bring a packet home as an edible souvenir. With its handmade preparation, local ingredients, and satisfying crunch, this traditional rice cracker offers a simple but memorable taste of rural Tokushima.