Ramen is a beloved staple of many cultures and cuisines around the world, but despite its widespread popularity, there’s still some confusion about whether it’s native to Japan or China.
Ramen– the cheap, savory, and unbelievably delicious noodle dish originally from Japan. We’ve all had it at least once in our lives, but the question of whether it’s Chinese or Japanese has been a source of debate for many foodies around the world. To add to the confusion, you can find ramen restaurants in almost every country these days. But where did this tasty dish really come from? Is ramen Chinese? To answer that age-old question — is ramen Chinese? — let’s dive into the fascinating history of this noodle soup and explore how it became such a global phenomenon. So what is really behind this popular East Asian staple? Is ramen actually Chinese? Let’s explore!
The actual history of ramen
Fact:
Chinese noodles are ramen’s ancestors.
The earliest Chinese noodle record in Japan is…
Zhu Zhiyu served Tokugawa Mitsukuni noodles from his hometown in 1697.
A Confucianism expert from the Ming dynasty and Edo Japan, Zhu Zhiyu.
And the Japanese feudal ruler of Mito was Tokugawa Mitsukuni.
Or…
A Japanese monk served his Chinese-recipe noodles to a guest in 1488.
Ramen didn’t become widely consumed in Japan, nevertheless, until the 19th century.
The debut of Rairaiken in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood was the crucial and thrilling moment for ramen.
Do you know that some Japanese people confuse the sounds of “L” with “R”?
And because of this, ramen is spelled with a “R” rather than a “L.”
The word “Ramen” is always used to refer to this in the world
Are you aware that Chinese people don’t view Japanese Chinese cuisine as being authentic?
The menu of a Chinese restaurant in Japan confuses the Chinese when they see it.
due to their confusion over what it is.
Japanese consumers’ taste preferences are taken into account while creating localized Chinese cuisine in Japan.
This modified food may seem unusual to a lot of Chinese folks!
Yet, they are content after eating the ramen.
Understand why?
In Japan, ramen has gained popularity as a dish.
Also, after a century of advancement and modification
Ramen noodles have changed so much over the years that they are now an entirely different food from the traditional Chinese noodles.
because they believe ramen to be a Japanese dish.
Japanese-style ramen noodles are always referred as as “ramen” around the world.
In Japan, ramen has gained popularity as a dish.
Also, after a century of advancement and modification
Ramen noodles have changed so much over the years that they are now an entirely different food from the traditional Chinese noodles.
Japanese cuisine is special because of ramen.
And they have been causing joy and elation among people everywhere.
You could be under the impression that you require ramen bowls if ramen or any other Japanese-style noodles and soup are your go-to comfort foods.
Large bowls of ramen fit perfectly in ramen bowls.
They are sturdy, spacious enough to pile on the fixings, and most importantly, they are gorgeous to look at.
For your ramen night, gather your family, friends, and loved ones over a bowl of warm, hearty home-cooked ramen.
Likewise, move the noodles from those hideous-looking containers when you get takeout.
When it comes time for your next ramen night, you and your family will be so eager to utilize these bowls!
Ramen vs Lamian: Why are they different?
Although while lamian served as the inspiration for the development of ramen, the two foods are significantly unlike.
La, which in Chinese means “to pull,” and mian, which is a wheat dough-based food item, such as noodles.
This indicates that lamian literally means “hand-pulled noodles.”
Have you ever seen a Chinese chef manipulate noodles in this manner?
That is commendable and enjoyable.
You don’t hand-pull the dough for ramen. The dough is rolled out flat and then cut into strands that resemble long, thin noodles.
Let’s sum up: Lamian primarily refers to hand-pulled Chinese noodles, whereas the term “Japanese ramen noodles” is used to describe all wheat-based noodles.
How do these noodles taste different?
As I previously stated, Japanese ramen is created by slicing or cutting strands from the dough rather than by hand-pulling.
While preparing ramen noodles, a machine is typically used as a helper:
adding flour, creating dough, pressing two flat pieces of dough together, cutting into strand shape, etc.
Ramen noodles will have a harder, chewier feel after undergoing this treatment.
Ramen noodles’ pleasant chewiness makes me feel full and content.
Consider Chinese lamian to have a comparable texture.
Nope!
Compared to ramen noodles, la mian are more softer.
Understand why?
because you extract lamian by hand while using oil.
Expanding and tugging noodles are made simpler by oil.
How ramen and lamian noodles look different?
As I previously stated, Japanese ramen is created by slicing or cutting strands from the dough rather than by hand-pulling.
While preparing ramen noodles, a machine is typically used as a helper:
adding flour, creating dough, pressing two flat pieces of dough together, cutting into strand shape, etc.
Ramen noodles will have a harder, chewier feel after undergoing this treatment.
Ramen noodles’ pleasant chewiness makes me feel full and content.
Consider Chinese lamian to have a comparable texture.
Nope!
Compared to ramen noodles, la mian are more softer.
Understand why?
because you extract lamian by hand while using oil.
Expanding and tugging noodles are made simpler by oil.
How “Chinese Noodles” Became a Japanese Favorite
You frequently hear Japanese expats say things like, “When I return back to Japan, the first thing I want to eat is ramen.” The noodle dish has established itself as a staple of the country’s culinary tradition. Also, ramen chefs are always competing to elevate the dish by experimenting with fresh ingredients and tastes.
In 2013, there were over 35,000 ramen shops countrywide, or an average of 28 establishments per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the website Statistics Japan. The region with the most ramen shops per resident is Yamagata Prefecture, with Tochigi, Niigata, Akita, and Kagoshima Prefectures following.
In any event, especially in the bigger cities, you won’t have to look very far to locate a ramen shop in Japan. The majority also provide quick-serving bowls of noodles for a fair price. Ramen is viewed as a form of quick cuisine in Japan, and it may be consumed for lunch or anytime you’re feeling peckish. But there is also a sizable group of ramen otaku who are really serious about their noodles. Fortunately for them, the intense rivalry in the ramen market has produced an abundance of unique flavors and toppings for them to become fixated on.
An Unpretentious National Favorite
According to legend, Tokugawa Mitsukuni (1628–1701), the second ruler of the Mito domain, was the first Japanese person to consume ramen (now Ibaraki Prefecture). One story claims that Tokugawa was taught by Zhu Zhiyu (1600–82), a Confucian scholar banished from Ming China, who also gave him “Chinese noodles,” the precursor of modern ramen. The noodles, according to the records, were fashioned from a combination of wheat and lotus flour and were served in a broth. In Ibaraki, a dish with updated ingredients is marketed as “Mito domain ramen.”
The Meiji era (1868–1922) was the first time, though, that these “Chinese noodles” really started to gain popularity among Japanese diners. Noodles and soup were often served with braised pork (chsh), bamboo shoots (menma), and split-open hard-boiled eggs in Chinese eateries across Yokohama. Ramen is sometimes referred as as Chinese soba (chka soba) in Japan because to its roots.
Following World War II, Chinese refugees started selling ramen across the nation, and it quickly overtook Japanese curry as a beloved, straightforward cuisine. Ramen was embraced as a cheap and delicious meal offered from street vendors during that turbulent time when food was in short supply. These little kiosks grew into businesses, which spread quickly throughout Japan.
Since there are now so many stores, there is fierce rivalry, which has given rise to numerous new varieties of ramen, including upmarket versions with crab or lobster on top that can cost up to 10,000 (approximately $100) each bowl. On the other hand, some chains provide ramen for as cheap as 300 yen (about $3). Ramen is fundamentally a cheap, tasty, and fast cuisine, notwithstanding the rare pricey bowl, and most cooks work to provide the maximum variation possible within those limitations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ve seen that the precise origins of ramen and how it became so popular in Japan remain unclear, but it is clear that Chinese influence played a role and continues to do so in many parts of the world. The idea of blending different cultures is exciting and inspiring and can often result in cuisines that are uniquely delicious. Nowadays, however, ramen is firmly a part of both Chinese and Japanese culture and has become more than simply a cuisine; it’s a beloved comfort food enjoyed by people around the world. If you ever have any more questions about this topic or anything related to culinary culture, please feel free to contact us at Angelo’s Burgers for more information! We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Ultimately, the journey to determine if ramen is Chinese or not is difficult to answer. Its development has intertwined with Japanese and Chinese cultures, making it a truly unique hybrid. For many of us, ramen will always have an extra special place in our hearts,whether that be in the form of nostalgia or just as a tasty meal. Whatever influences have shaped it over time, one thing is for sure—ramen is one of those dishes that will remain loved around the world for generations to come. With that being said,“chu-kaan”or“kanpai!”—Here’s to the love affair between China and Japan that resulted in this delicious dish we all know and love today. So next time you reach for a bowl of ramen, you can know that its history may be more complicated than it appears, but its popularity remains unquestioned!