
蕎麦 (そば / Soba)
Japanese buckwheat noodles
- Category
- Noodle dish
- Main Ingredient
- Grains & Noodles
Soba is a traditional Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour. Its delicate aroma and flavor are best enjoyed in simple forms like zaru soba or hot soba. It is also popular as a light closing dish after drinking.
When / How to Eat
Enjoyed cold with dipping sauce (zaru soba) or in hot broth (kake soba). Traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve as toshikoshi soba.
Cultural Background
Soba has been popular since the Edo period and is tied to Japanese tradition, especially New Year’s Eve soba. Regions like Shinshu and Izumo have their own unique soba culture.
Cautions
People with buckwheat allergy should avoid soba. The flavor and aroma vary greatly depending on the soba restaurant.