Izumo Soba
Soba (そば) is a Japanese style black noodle which is made from buckwheat.
Izumo soba is one of the specialties of Shimane. It is also known as one of the three major soba in Japan along with Wanko soba in Iwate and Togakushi soba in Nagano. Compared to other types of soba, Izumo soba has darker noodles and it is served in a very unique way.
Why is Izumo soba so black?
Izumo Soba noodles are darker than other types of soba, and it has a stronger buckwheat flavor. This is because the full seeds are used to make soba flour. Sobako (そば粉), the ground buckwheat powder, is the main ingredient of Soba. Usually, the hulls of buckwheat are removed before grinding the seeds. However, Izumo soba uses the entire seeds without removing the hulls. The sobako which contains the entire hull of the seeds makes the Izumo soba noodles so black.
How is it served?
Unlike most other soba that is served in a large bowl, Izumo soba is served in round three-tiered bowls with a dipping sauce and a variety of toppings. Toppings usually include seaweed, shredded radish, and green onion.
⬇⬇⬇ This video shows how Izumo soba is made and how it is served 👧
How to eat Izumo Soba?
First, you add toppings and dipping sauce to the first layer and mix them. When you finish eating the noodles in the first layer, then you pour the leftover to the next layer and add more fresh toppings and dipping sauce.
The Origin of Izumo Soba
The origin of Izumo soba dates back to the 16-17th centuries of the Edo period in Japan. The Lord Harusato Matsudaira, who ruled Shimane Prefecture during the late 18th century, was a great lover of soba. He used to pack soba in a lunch box to take and eat outside. This is said to be the origin of Izumo soba.
Where can I eat Izumo soba?
There are so many Izumo soba restaurants in Shimane. Let me introduce two of my favorite places!
1) Heiwa Soba (平和そば)
Phone: +81-853-53-3240
Hours: 11:00 - 15:00, closed every Thursday
Website: http://www.heiwasoba.com/ (Japanese)
2) Soba En (そば縁)
Address: 517-1 Hama-cho, Izumo, Shimane
Phone: +81-853-24-8288
Hours: 11:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 22:00, closed every Wednesday
Website: https://www.sobaen.jp/ (Japanese)