Arare (food)

There are many different sizes, colors, and shapes of arare. Some are sweet, and others savory. One, called norimaki arare (nori meaning an edible seaweed in the form of a dried sheet; maki meaning roll shape) is wrapped with dried nori seaweed. Another, kaki no tane (柿の種), takes its name from its resemblance to a persimmon seed. (Kaki is Japanese for "persimmon".) Kaki no tane are often sold with peanuts, a combination called kakipī (かきピー).^[1] These are a popular snack to accompany Japanese beer.

Japanese typically consume arare to celebrate Hinamatsuri, the "doll festival" held on 3 March. The arare made during the festival are multicolored, in shades including pink, yellow, white, brown and light green.^[2] Regular arare can be bought throughout the year, but the colorful ones are only available around January to March in anticipation of Hinamatsuri.

Arare was brought to the US by Japanese immigrants to Hawaii who came as plantation workers in the early 1900s. In Hawaii, the snack is often called mochi crunch or kakimochi (fried rice paste).^[3] In Hawaii, it is popular to mix arare with popcorn. Some people mix in furikake, too. The popular "Hurricane popcorn" includes both arare and furikake with the popcorn.^{[citation needed]}

• Agemochi
• Mochi
• Olive no Hana, a blend of arare
• Senbei
• Rengginang, Indonesian rice cracker