Ramen

Ramen (ラーメン)is Japanese noodle came from China. Ramen is the Japanese pronunciation of the 拉麺 (la mian). They also called this chuka soba (中華そば ,) or shina soba (支那そば) in Meiji period. It is served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork (チャーシュー,), dried seaweed (海苔, nori), kamaboko, green onions and even corn.

Ramen – first – served for Tokugawa Mitsukuni (shogun), made by a Kong Hu Cu scientist. Ramen started to ate by citizens in Meiji period because ramen already served in restaurants in Kobe and Yokohama. In Taisho period, noodle sellers also sell their ramen. By the early Showa period, ramen had become a popular dish.

Ramen have consists of :

1. Noodle made by Chinese immigrant. They mixed noodle with bean sprouts, they also made tanmen (ramen without toppings), and mi ala kanton.

2. noodle sellers with handcart and used a type of a musical horn also called charamela. Some if them also use wagon. They walk around to sell their noodle.

Every city usually have their own characters of ramen. They promote the unique of their ramen. Sapporo is famous for its ramen. Domestic tourists come to Hokkaido to eat Sapporo ramen, which is ideal for Hokkaido’s harsh and snowy winters. The characteristic of Sapporo ramen is in the toppings, such as sweet corn, butter, bean sprouts, garlic, and sometime local seafood like squid, crab, etc.

Ramen is high carbohydrate and low vitamins and minerals. Ramen soup is high sodium, beside the noodles has very little degree of sodium.

Because ramen is very popular, there are Shin Yokohama Ramen Museum which is a unique ramen collections museum. The museum presents the history of ramen in Japan, instant ramen, various noodles, soups, toppings, etc in all Japan.