TAKEO will test market "Tonosama Grasshopper Crackers" in limited quantities. The product will go on sale on June 29, 2012, in packs of four for 390 yen (tax included).

Tonosama Grasshopper Rice Crackers

The "Tonosama Grasshopper Rice Crackers" are so-called Nanbu rice crackers made from Tonosama Grasshopper powder. The crackers are made from Tonosama Grasshopper cultivated in Kanagawa Prefecture by TAKEO based on technology from Hirosaki University and commercialized by Taiseido Senbei Shop in Aomori Prefecture. There are only three ingredients: flour, tonosama grasshoppers, and salt. This natural rice cracker has a fresh grass-like aroma of Tonosama grasshopper and a slight umami and savory flavor similar to that of shrimp.

The flour is "Nebarigoshi" flour from Aomori Prefecture, the Tonosama Grasshopper is Tonosama Grasshopper raised by TAKEO in "Mushibata" in Kanagawa Prefecture, and the salt is sea salt from Okinawa. The ultimate simplicity of the product allows the delicate flavor of each ingredient to be felt.

Hirosaki University and TAKEO have been working together since August 2020 on research and development of the use of the tanosama grasshopper as a food source. Hirosaki University (Assistant Professor Ryohei Kanbara, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences) is in charge of developing the production technology of the horsehair grasshopper, while TAKEO (CTO Ryota Mitsuhashi) is in charge of its demonstration experiment and the development of horsehair grasshopper food.

The product can be purchased at TAKEO's online store.