Izumo soba is a variety of traditional Japanese soba noodle and regional specialty enjoyed since olden times by travelers worshipping at Izumo-taisha Shrine. Araki-ya, founded 230 years ago, is the oldest Izumo soba house in Japan. The famous “warigo-sandai soba” (triple-layer Warigo soba) can be sampled for 1090 yen in this atmospheric place. The chilled noodles and heaped on three deep red lacquerware round bowls assembled in a tower. The top bowl contains soba with egg, the middle bowl soba with grated mountain yam, and lowest bowl simply soba. Simply add soy-based sauce (tsuyu) and condiments such as spice, green onion and roasted seaweed to taste. Izumo soba is distinguished by its dark color and strong flavor, derived from the process of buckwheat and outer husk being ground together using a millstone. The noodles are an excellent match for a sweeter tsuyu using a thick dashi and soy sauce. It is a nifty way to enjoy slurping up the silky noodles. You must try this unique aspect of Japan’s food culture for yourself. Once you have finished the noodles, consider pouring some of the broth leftover from cooking the soba (sobayu) into your leftover tsuyu. “Basking in the afterglow” in this way is one of the joys of soba.(This information is as of December 2017)
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