Some people think they are nothing more than cardboard and tasteless to boot.
Perhaps in another era rice cakes belonged in the domain of sandal-wearers or ultra health freaks, but they are suddenly gaining a new respectability in the modern diet even though they are still located in ‘health food’ sections of supermarkets. Not only are rice cakes low in calories but supposedly more natural. They are also ideal for people who don’t eat wheat products.
Hirse-Mais Reiswaffeln
Garden-variety rice cake, even though the name sounds a little like Germany’s WWII air force the Luftwaffe. What I like though is that you can dress it up any way you want. From my experience there is almost nothing you cannot top a plain rice cake with, sweet or savoury. I guess that’s one of the advantages of being tasteless. At about 28 calories per rice cake, four can provide a decent lunch with the right topping for the same calories as a white bread roll, and if you get hungry in the afternoon you can always polish off another two without guilt for the same energy value as one digestive biscuit. These rice cakes were pretty sturdy and didn’t break on impact with the butter knife.
Price: 85 cents per pack of around 15 cakes
Verdict: Solid and dependable
Bjorg Extra-fine
These are the slim version of rice cakes and are thin to the point where I was worried they would not withstand the buttering process. I was wrong. I spread a little butter on four, followed by another round of spreading with pate and topped off with some cheddar. At only 17 calories each, they did the job just as well, if not better than, their chunkier counterparts and I managed to save 24 calories.
Price: 84 cents for around 30 cakes
Verdict: Surprisingly sturdy and tasty…when I topped them up
Kallo Honey Rice Cakes
This is the most widespread brand on the market in Cyprus. It’s Belgian. Kallo rice cakes come in chunky, slims, with sesame, without sesame, with salt, without salt, ad finitum. Newer to the market are Kallo flavoured rice cakes including these honey coated ones. Rice cakes with honey are a favourite of mine but it’s not always to carry around a jar of honey and its messy and sticky to boot so these came in handy. In fact they were not only handy but tasty with just the right amount of honey coating that did actually taste like honey. They reminded me a little of sweet popcorn but much better. At 40 calories per cake and individually wrapped in packets of two for portability, they are great with a cup of tea.
Price: ?1.19 for 8 cakes
Verdict: Steep price when compared to the DIY honey cake but much more convenient and less messy
Kallo Savoury and Cheese Rice Cakes
Packed like the chunky honey cakes in separate packages, these weigh in at 34 calories each. They are the savoury version of the honey cakes but watch out because they are hard-core salty. Very satisfying if one feels the need for salt but even half a one has you reaching for the water bottle. Tip to pub owners: Instead of serving popcorn and nuts to make your customers thirsty, just bombard them with these rice cake.
Price: ?1.19 for 8
Verdict: Tasty but lethal
Kallo Dark Chocolate
Slim rice cake topped with dark chocolate. This also comes in a milk chocolate version but as dark chocolate is supposedly healthier, I opted to try that.
Not quite a chocolate digestive but not far off. Light and not too sweet I would opt for these over a chocolate digestive any day and at 60 calories each, would be that much lighter for it myself. So would my pocket however.
Price: ?1.47 for 8
Verdict: My favourite
Rookies Chocolate
From the ultimate in rice-cake luxury to something a little less than perfect. Rookies rice cakes are made in Thailand, obviously without Belgian finesse. Just because it’s called a rice cake, and it looks like a rice cake does not mean it is or that it tastes like one. It’s hard to describe what this rice cake actually is. It reminds you of something but you can’t place it. These are hard as Cypriot koulouri but taste like… well… something really hard with bits of chocolate spread here and there on the top. That is not to say that Rookies are not without merit. At 35 calories they make a tasty enough snack when the need arises.
Price: 93 cents for 12
Verdict: All right in a sugar emergency
Rookies Caramel
Just as the chocolate ones have a hint of chocolate these do have a strong hint of caramel. Other than that there is no difference.
Price: 93 cents for 12
Verdict: See verdict above
