東風吹かば

Kochi Fukaba

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.