Wafer paper
 Colored wafer paper | |
| Alternative names |
|
|---|---|
| Type | Ingredient |
| Place of origin | Western Europe |
| Main ingredients | Starch (potato or rice) |
| Variations | Oburāto |
| Similar dishes | |
Wafer paper, also called edible paper or rice paper, is a very thin, edible sheet used in baking, confectionery and pharmaceuticals.
History
Wafer paper evolved from the production of wafers. Called oblaten in Germany, it was used as an edible non-stick baking paper, particularly for lebkuchen.[1]
Production and usage
Wafer paper is made of thinly rolled and baked starch, such as potato or rice.[2]
Confectionery usage
Wafer paper is used as an edible wrapper for sticky confectionery like nougat.[3][4] Some candies are made largely out of wafer paper, such as flying saucers.
Wafer paper is also valued as an edible decoration: it can be made into flowers, edible fabric and other shapes, while being light.[5][6][7][8]
Edible printing
Wafer paper is a favored material for edible printing.
Pharmaceutical usage
Wafer paper can be used as an aid in taking medicine, providing a barrier to tasting what is wrapped inside without inhibiting digestion.[9] It can also used in taking recreational drugs, which is called a 'parachute'.
Oburāto
Oburāto (オブラート, loanword from Dutch oblaat 'wafer paper') is a particularly thin and transparent wafer paper, made of rice starch.[10] It was inspired by Dutch wafer paper, introduced to Japan in the Edo era.[11]
Oburāto is used to wrap sticky candies like dagashi – particularly Botan Rice Candy and White Rabbit candy.
See also
- Bánh tráng - a pliable Vietnamese edible wrapper made from rice flour
- Cake decorating
- Kiping - a paper-thin Filipino wafer made from glutinous rice starch
- Sugar sculpture
References
- ^ Esspapier [Edible paper] (in German), Material-Archiv, retrieved 2025-08-15
- ^ Stol, Michiel (2018-02-01), "Making your brand delicious", Discover Benelux, p. 38
- ^ Ferrera, Charity (2001-10-01), Nougat, Los Angeles Times
- ^ Songco, Angelo Narciso (2006-11-21), A Christmas Special: Notches 60 Glorious Years, Philstar Media Group
- ^ New edible decorations are blooming marvellous, Scottish Local Retailer Magazine, 2015-05-29
- ^ Roberts, Embry (2016-04-14), Cake couture! You won't believe the details on this edible wedding dress, TODAY
- ^ Cepeda, Cody (2019-12-23), Edible flowers, anyone? Filipina cake artist makes beautiful pastries, Inquirer.net
- ^ Stoddard, Catherine (2024-02-02), Burn-away cakes: What are they and how do they work?, livenowfox.com
- ^ Hayase, Nobumasa; et al., オブラートあるいは服薬補助ゼリーで包んだ錠剤及びカプセル剤における 溶出挙動 [Dissolution behaviors of tablet and capsule covered with oblate or agar jelly for taking medicine easily] (in Japanese), vol. 131, Yakugaku Zasshi, doi:10.1248/yakushi.131.161
- ^ Oblaat Taberato Disney character edible prints: Just cut and paste onto your food, Grape Japan, 2021-02-25
- ^ Sawada, Mitziko. Tokyo Life, New York Dreams: Urban Japanese Visions of America, 1890-1924. Berkeley: University of California Press, c1996 1996.