Soba Masters / Making Buckwheat Noodles / Emergency Food

“New Year's Market” in Katsuyama which we have introduced in our previous staff blog,

they sold many products such as local foods, handmade products which they made with things from their farms, kitchen appliances, and so on.

This is one of the farmer’s markets. They are making buckwheat noodle (Soba in Japanese).

Did you know that buckwheat noodle was made as emergency food at first?

One of the local specialties in Fukui, buckwheat noodle, the beginning of it was during the Warring State Period in Japan.

Because it was in the middle of that, people at that time needed any food that can be grown and cooked very easily.

Buckwheat can be grown anywhere even in wastelands.

Therefore, Asakura Takakage 10th family head in Echizen (the old name ot Fukui),

he gave an order for farmers to grow buckwheat.

After that, “Echizen Oroshisoba” (Oroshisoba is the one served with grated Japansese radish on top) which Emperor Showa really liked and named,

“Tempura soba” ( One served with deep-fried vegetables and or shrimp) which is a big meal,

“Kake soba” (The one that is simply served in soup) and so on have been loved by many people since it’s beginning.

 

T.F