Have you already tried soba (buckwheat noodles) in Japan?
Soba is one of the most famous and main noodles of Japanese cuisine and there are various types of soba dishes raised for the cultural tradition of the local communities. Negi soba is one of them and offered in the Aizu area which is a famous touristic site in Fukushima Prefecture.
You will never forget its striking appearance after seeing it once.
What is added in the soba bowl!?
As you can see the main photo, this is how it is served. Mainly it seems very ordinal soba, except in just one point. If you see it for the first time, you may think, “What is added in soba bowl!?”
It is a whole white leek (negi). Maybe some of you know what the thing is, but feel not very comfortable, right?
Why is a whole white leek put in the bowl?
You may wonder why there is an uncut white leek in the soba bowl.
Here is the answer.
The whole white leek is added to be used as chopsticks instead – pick up and slurp noodles with the white leek, and then sometimes you can eat it as a refreshment. You may think it is pungent, but actually it has the slight sweetness that perfectly matches to soba.
As you may think, it is not very easy to eat soba with a white leek instead of chopsticks. However, you should probably try that at least once for your experience. Of course, if you find it too difficult, you can use chopsticks as those are usually served with the soba.
Make a wish
Is said that this unique style came from the idea of that; cutting something is regarded as something to avoid because it is connected to the idea of cutting good luck.
In the past, people provided soba as a gift to the lord. They thought they should give him something with good luck, so they put one whole white leek to keep good luck uncut. In addition to that, there was a local belief that people are blessed with good children if they eat soba with a whole white leek.
This unique and tasty soba with the surprising appearance is created like that way. I hope you can enjoy the taste as well as its cultural background by making a good wish for your trip here.
