After rice, noodles are the most popular food in Japan. Small noodle shops abound there, old-fashioned fast food restaurants are called ‘sobaya’. Enticing aromas and a buzz of energy attract the weary and hungry. Folks hurriedly arrive and leave energized, uplifted. The sobaya is a community hub that reliably supplies deliciously pleasing noodle dishes that they grew up with. They are a fun and famous discovery for foreigners to experience. Each shop is uniquely efficient in preparing and serving familiar noodle recipes. The mainstays of their menu are soba and udon noodles.
Americans grew up with Italian pasta. Even so, soba and udon noodles have gained remarkable popularity in the U.S. because they are so enjoyable, satisfying, and carry new tastes of Japan’s culinary art. Traditional EDEN Soba and Udon noodles bring the artistry of the sobaya into your kitchen.
Soba’s Reputation
Soba is the Japanese word for buckwheat, but even there it usually refers to soba noodles. Buckwheat is not at all related to wheat and it is gluten free. Gluten is what holds most pastas together. Traditional Soba Noodles are a blend of buckwheat and wheat to firm-up and hold the noodles together.
Soba Noodles are ingrained in Japan’s culture. They represent good health, strength, and good luck. Soba noodle dishes are expected at special events and during the holidays. A dish called Toshikoshi or ‘long-life soba’ is taken as the last food of the year, eaten as midnight brings in the New Year. This ritual of soba served in dashi broth is believed to ensure strength and health through the coming year. A dish called Misoka or ‘last day of the month soba’ is taken as the last meal of the month to celebrate and ensure good fortune.
Udon Noodle Soothing Comfort
Udon Noodles are extremely popular in Japan. Udon is a long-noodle wheat pasta. Blends of various flours with wheat are also common. Udon is a soothing comfort food that goes well with most every food. Noodle bowls of Udon with Japanese dashi broth are widely popular.
There are many variations to Udon’s shape and thickness. In 2007, Eden Foods introduced real organic, whole grain EDEN Udon Noodles made from whole grain golden amber durum wheat flour. It remains the first and only 100% whole grain udon that we are aware of from anywhere.
Sobaya Company Organic Noodles
Eden makes seven kinds of real organic, traditional soba and udon noodles. • Soba • Kamut Soba • Spelt Soba • Kamut Udon • Spelt Udon • Wheat & Brown Rice Udon and 100% Whole Grain Udon Noodles. They are made of EDEN grain at Eden Foods’ Sobaya Company in Montréal, Canada using the same roll-and-cut process as Eden’s imported Japanese Soba and Udon. The dough is mixed and kneaded with pure water and a touch of EDEN real sea salt. The dough is rolled (sheeted) and folded onto itself eight times. The dough layering and re-rolling process strengthens the noodles. Long strands are cut, draped over rods on racks, and placed in drying rooms where they are naturally air-dried. When ready, they are cut to length and packaged. Sobaya Company Japanese equipment makes North America’s only real organic, traditional udon and soba noodles, absolutely the finest in the Western hemisphere. Organic EDEN Udon and Soba Noodles are organic, non-GMO, contain no chemical additives, and are low sodium.
Five Generations Handcrafted
Six kinds of EDEN Soba and Udon Noodles are imported from Japan. The Tanaka family hand crafts these EDEN noodles using the same methods since 1906. They now have five generations actively involved at their same continuous location. The Tanaka family uses only fresh milled flour, a bit of sea salt, and exceptional know-how.
EDEN Udon, Brown Rice Udon, and traditional 40% Soba noodles begin with a blend of hard red winter and spring wheat. Some are a blend of brown rice or whole buckwheat flour. Three of the Tanaka family soba varieties carry a prized traditional health food, jinenjo wild mountain yam, lotus root, or spring mugwort leaf. These enhancements add valuable nutrients, taste, color, texture, and sought-after benefits as EDEN Wild Yam, Lotus Root, and Mugwort Soba.
Dedicated Gluten Free Facility
EDEN 100% Buckwheat organic Soba Noodles are bracing, strengthening food made of pre-gelatinized 100% buckwheat flour. Whole grain unhulled buckwheat is puffed and then ground into flour. This pre-gelatinized flour is then blended with buckwheat flour to a 60/40 ratio. Water is added to make dough which is kneaded, rolled, and cut. The formed noodles are dried, cut to length, and packaged. Organic 100% Buckwheat EDEN Soba is sodium free, and skillfully made in an exclusively dedicated gluten free production facility.
Versatile, Energizing Satisfaction
The noodles from Eden Sobaya Company in Montréal, and the Soba and Udon noodles from Japan are satisfying, uplifting, and versatile. Quick to make, they are delicious and energizing. Soba and Udon Noodles are typically served in a dashi broth of kombu seaweed stock, shoyu soy sauce, mirin rice cooking wine, and sometimes miso instead of shoyu. Other dashi ingredients can include dried shiitake or maitake mushrooms, dried fish flakes, dried vegetables, and curry or other spices. Noodle bowls can be served hot or chilled.
EDEN Soba and Udon are great entrées, a snack, or a quick meal when unexpected guests arrive. EDEN Soba and Udon are superb pantry food to have on hand; ideal in salads, stir-fries, with a dipping sauce, and any way you enjoy pasta. Soba is also used to make noodle sushi. Visit Eden Foods online at edenfoods.com for recipes and ideas.
Seven Conditions of Health
by George Ohsawa in Zen Macrobiotics 1965
I. No Fatigue
II. Good Appetite
III. Deep and Good Sleep
IV. Good Memory
V. Good Humor
VI. Clarity of Thinking and Doing
VII. The Mood of Justice
Chew your food very well.