With beer tasting so good in the summer, you need the perfect snack to enjoy your evening drinks. For someone like me, a hardcore savory snack lover and a die-hard drink enthusiast, finding an affordable, tasty, and easy snack is essential! In this article, I’ll introduce a snack that checks all those boxes.
Today’s pick is ‘Maruka Foods’ Seaweed Tempura with Herb Garden Salad Flavor, a light and refreshing seaweed tempura snack that pairs perfectly with non-alcoholic beverages.
'Maruka Foods' Seaweed Tempura with Herb Garden Salad Flavor
Maruka Foods, the company behind the wildly popular 'Setouchi Lemon-Flavored Squid Tempura,' is known for their dried snack foods. This squid tempura became a massive hit after being featured on a popular TV show and is now a beloved souvenir from Hiroshima.
As someone originally from Hiroshima, I’ve witnessed this snack's meteoric rise. Once hanging from the corners of train station kiosks, it gradually took center stage in souvenir shops, made its way to supermarkets in my current home of Hyogo Prefecture, and eventually became a staple in convenience stores across the country.
Hiroshima's recent success with lemon-themed souvenirs is undeniable, and the king of them all is definitely the ‘Setouchi Lemon-Flavored Squid Tempura.’
Now, I’d like to introduce another gem from Maruka Foods: their Seaweed Tempura with Herb Garden Salad Flavor.
Perfect Fit for Non-Alcoholic Drinks!?
While the ‘Setouchi Lemon-Flavored Squid Tempura’ is notorious for being a perfect pairing with alcohol, the Seaweed Tempura with Herb Garden Salad Flavor is designed to fit perfectly with non-alcoholic drinks.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a trend of non-alcoholic beverages that aren’t quite beer, aren’t soft drinks, and aren’t tea – a third category all their own. This seaweed tempura was made with these kinds of drinks in mind.
It may seem a bit rebellious to recommend a snack designed for non-alcoholic drinks as a beer snack, but since it's from Maruka, I knew it would pair well with alcohol, too! So, I opened it with that thought in mind.
But as soon as I opened the package, I understood why it's marketed for non-alcoholic drinks. The aroma is much lighter than typical alcohol snacks.
Most snacks designed for alcohol pairings have bold, punchy flavors. In contrast, this seaweed tempura offers a light and refreshing scent. It’s not heavy or overpowering, but rather airy and subtle.
If this were made specifically for alcohol, the herbs would likely lean toward spicier varieties. However, the dominant herb flavor in this tempura is rosemary. It’s gently sweet, soft, and delicate, but not lacking in flavor. The herb's umami and the saltiness are in perfect harmony, while the seaweed’s fragrance adds a fresh, clean finish.
A New Snack for the New Age of Drinks
At first, I thought it might lack the punch needed to work as a snack, but the crispy texture and the toasty flavor of olive oil are addictively good. While it may not pair well with a strong, full-flavored drink, it would go wonderfully with something light like a crisp white wine.
Personally, I recommend pairing this crispy, fragrant seaweed snack with cheese for an even better experience. It’s the perfect choice for when you want something a little lighter than the usual heavy snacks.
