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Soba is a Japanese noodle that is
eaten in various ways depending on the season. In summer, soba is served cold
and dipped in a chilled sauce; in winter, it comes in a hot broth. Soba is often
garnished with tasty tidbits, such as tempura shrimp, or with a bit of boiled
spinach to add a touch of color.
Soba has been a favorite of Japanese people for centuries and the popular buckwheat
noodle has even secured a role in various Japanese traditions, including the
New Year’s celebration. Japanese people commonly eat soba on New Year’s
Eve, when the old year intersects with the new year, and this is known as toshikoshi
or “year-crossing” soba.
There are various theories regarding
the origins of |
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| ©IMAGE LAND. CO. LTD. / amanaimagess |
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| toshikoshi soba. One theory is tied to soba’s association
with the accumulation of wealth—a notion rooted in the practices of goldsmiths,
who used balls of soba dough to collect gold dust from their workshops. Because
soba is easily cut, some people argue that the noodle symbolizes the severing
of links with the hardships of the previous year. Soba is also said to signify
longevity, because it is long and thin. There are many other explanations and
no single theory can claim to be the definitive truth, but this only adds to
the mystique of toshikoshi soba. |
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