The Ninja diet was a form of
military rations historically consumed by
ninjas. The types of rations consumed included suikatsugan (水渇丸, 'thirst pill'),[1][2]hyōrōgan (兵糧丸, 'provisions pill'),[3][4][5]kikatsugan (飢渇丸, 'starvation pill'),[2][6]hoshii (糒しい, 'dried boiled rice'),[7][8] and katayaki (かた焼き, 'hard-baked', a type of traditional
senbei).[7][9]
Bansenshukai hunger pills
According to
Hakim Isler, the 3 most common food pills were Suikatsugan, Hyorougan and Kikatsugan.[10]
Hyorougan ("ration pills") was made of
glutinous rice, ordinary
rice,
lotus seed, Chinese
yam,
cinnamon,
adlay, Asian
ginseng and
sugar.[4][11] Other source say that Hyorougan was made from wheat powder, saké, sticky rice and carrots.[7] According to Hakim Isler, they were made of non-glutinous rice, lotus fruits, yams,
ginseng and crystal sugar.[10]
Kikatsugan ("hunger pills"), or starve pill, was designed to help the ninjas when in starvation, being made from
glutinous rice,
sake, dried chickweed, ginseng,
buckwheat,
adlay and yams.[10]
Suikatsugan ("thirst pills") were made with pickled plum (
umeboshi),
buckwheat flour, and yams.[1]