Rainbow noodles are something of a precious novelty these days, with various chefs and makers using natural dyes like beets, purple sweet potato, and greens to achieve bright, eye catching colors within pasta.
Whether you’ve seen pictures of the trend or its new on your radar, one thing is clear: these rainbow noodle flowers from Japan are adorable, and they carry with them a beautiful story of Japanese craftsmanship, to boot.
Bokksu Boutique– a pioneering snack retailer that sources boutique Japanese sundries from Japanese family businesses– sells the above-shown Soumen Noodle Gift Set (6 flavors, $66) on their website, and it’s now available for shipping direct from Japan across the world.
The soumen noodles in the colorful bundle above are made in the Toyama prefecture using traditional 170-year-old techniques. Here, they make, stretch, and dry the noodles by hand in a specific non-humid environment to create an ideal smooth and chewy texture.
For the colors, the makers use natural dye sourced from plants. Then, they tie the noodles in a traditional Japanese knot style known as mizuhiki, into a round form inspired by flowers. (This shape also makes cooking them easier because you can just drop the whole thing into water without breakage.)
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More About Soumen Noodles
Reverance for art and technique are twin principles defining the culinary culture of Japan, where making noodles is a matter of scrupulous attention.
Unlike ramen noodles– which are more elastic and ideal for soup– soumen noodles like these ones are thinner and more delicate. Ideally, you eat them on their own with your favorite sauces. The color fades only slightly during cooking, which makes them fun to mix and match.
This can be an exciting undertaking as the color here also connotes flavor. (The noodles come in cool Japanese flavors like sakura (aka cherry blossom), pumpkin, purple sweet potato, paprika, matcha green tea, and original/plain flavor.)
We love them! The delightful eye-catching whimsy makes them great for gifting– or keeping for a rainy day meal that needs a pop of excitement.
You can buy your own rainbow noodles here.