Umaibo: Everything you Need to Know About this Crunchy Delight!
Karina Ikedo
Umaibo, Japanese for “tasty stick”, is a classic puffed corn snack. It’s popular with people of all ages, but because the snack features popular characters, this corn snack is popular with children!
With its affordable price and bright and fun packaging, it’s understandable why so many love this crunchy snack. Keep reading to learn more about this fun and delicious treat!
What is umaibo?
Umaibo is a cylinder of puffed corn that looks like a short stick when you hold it. This crunchy delight is a popular Japanese dagashi (low-cost snack). The snack is very affordable, so even kids can buy a lot of varieties with little pocket money. This snack has mouth-watering savory flavors and a crispy texture.
Apart from its addictive yumminess, umaibo has maintained its incredibly affordable price. Forty different flavors have been released since its market debut. Each flavor comes in eye-catching bright and colorful packaging featuring umaibo’s mascot cat character Umaemon.
History of Umaibo
Umaibo was first produced by Risca Corporation and commercialized by Yaokin in July 1979. At the time, this snack sold for the cheap price of ¥10 ($0.71) per stick. Much to the delight of Japanese children and their parents, that price hasn’t changed for the last 41 years.
Yaokin introduced a puffing machine that makes puffy snacks by applying heat and pressure to ingredients, creating a straight snack. They named the new product “umaibo” simply because it was delicious. There were similar snacks at convenience stores, though they were unwrapped.
What does umaibo taste like?
The cornmeal is fried to be light, airy, crispy, and stiff. It crackles and then melts quickly in your mouth. The flavor is all on the outside of the stick as a salty powder. Umaibo has a different taste depending on the flavor you choose. Their flavors range from savory to sweet and everything in between.
Regarding umaibo flavors, you can choose from a wide range of tasty choices. There are many kinds of these tasty corn snacks, so everyone can find something they like. From familiar and comforting flavors like corn potage, salami, and cheese to more adventurous ones like takoyaki, mentaiko, and teriyaki burger that push the limits of flavor combinations,
Umaibo never fails to surprise and please snack lovers. Also, limited edition and seasonal tastes like wasabi, matcha, and apple pie keep things exciting and make sure there is always something new to try. Whether you like standard favorites or want to try something bold and new, this snack will take you on a flavor journey that will leave you wanting more.
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How do you eat umaibo in Japan?
While it’s more common to see umaibo in snack form, there are additional ways to use it. Here are a few ways Japanese people consume this yummy treat!
Rice Seasoning
Crumble the snack and sprinkle it over your rice for a flavorful dish. The furikake (dry condiment for rice) using umaibo mentai (seasoned cod roe) goes perfectly as a rice topping. Another delicious flavor is takoyaki (grilled octopus balls) corn puff, a match made to plain white rice in heaven.
Tasty Croutons
If you’re tired of using croutons on your salads, you can swap them out for crunchy pieces of umaibo. Try using the cheese flavor and chopping or breaking it into pieces.
This snack is known for its accurate-tasting flavors, like the corn potage flavor, a Japanese soup. Some people take this option and make soup. The recipe is simple, only using two ingredients, corn potage and milk that you heat on the stovetop.
It’s also an excellent topping for Japanese soups like udon, miso, and more. You can add a yummy flavor and texture to your soup by crumbling umaibo; just crush the corn puff into small pieces and put them in your favorite soup!
Cheese Flavored Egg Omelet
Make a delicious omelet using umaibo cheese. To make, add a teaspoon of mayonnaise to a beaten egg and bake the egg. Then, roll up a stick of umaibo cheese in the cooked egg. Dress the omelet with mayonnaise and ketchup, and enjoy the omelet!
Every culture has its tempting snack foods, and Japan is no exception! For many years, the puffy corn snack from the manufacturer Yaokin has been popular and loved among Japanese people.
Umaibo is an iconic crunchy snack that comes in unique flavors, is affordable, and is beloved by many! Have you tried it before? What is your favorite way to eat it? Let us know in the comments below!
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