Why do asian slurp their food

We all know noodles are a staple of Japanese cuisine. There are a variety of noodles that each have their own unique flavor, taste, and style. However, such delicious noodle dishes also share many things in common. Whether it is ramen (Chinese style wheat noodles), udon (wheat flour noodles) or soba (buckwheat flour noodles), one thing they share in common is the practice of slurping noodles.

Why Should You Slurp Noodles?

Why do asian slurp their food
In Japanese culture, there are plenty of reasons to slurp based on who you ask. Let’s check out a few! Image via Shutterstock

During the Edo Period, many people ate noodles at outdoor stalls. Historically, the noodles were eaten as quickly as possible, and then they would drink the soup which would result in loud slurping. One can even argue that slurping noodles is a part of Japanese table manners as slurping is an action correlated with eating noodles. 

Plus, in order to fully enjoy the noodle experience, people should not be bothered by the expected mess that slurping may cause so that they can fully focus on enjoying the taste. On top of this, some people consider the act of slurping to be a kind of compliment to the cook about how good the noodles are.

Another reason is that, ramen must be eaten hot. Ramen is not just a part of Japanese culture, but both the making (and eating) of it is also an art. The noodles require perfect timing from when the noodles are boiled to adding the soup and need to be enjoyed quickly. Delicious ramen requires plenty of work, time, and timing to get the most out of it! 

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Why do asian slurp their food

Just look at the different types of ramen: Hakata ramen, Kyushu ramen, Yokohama ramen, and especially Hokkaido ramen. Each type requires meticulous preparation and as a result, specific methods on how to eat it developed.

Most importantly, there is really no single method for how to eat noodles. In particular, for the whole ramen experience, some claim that you should drink a glass of water before eating to prepare the stomach for the ramen. However, others claim that one should avoid drinking water because it suppresses the taste buds and therefore weakens the ramen experience. 

The same problem applies to slurping. Some people believe that the meal should be eaten and slurped slowly so that the flavors are savored while others believe that ramen should be consumed rapidly to be properly appreciated. Fast or slow, however, they still slurp!

How to Slurp Noodles

Why do asian slurp their food
Slurping noodles can be harder than it sounds for people who didn’t grow up doing it. There is actually a method to the madness. Image via Shutterstock

When it comes to eating ramen, one should first taste a mouthful of the soup. Then it’s time for the noodle slurping. Because it’s encouraged to eat the noodles while it is hot, slurping the noodles will actually make it easier to eat. 

As you suck the noodles in, make sure you are drawing lots of air so that not only does some of the broth come up with the noodles, but the air also has a cooling effect on the very hot noodles.

Slurping noodles is not only a custom with ramen noodles but can also be done with soba and udon. Whether it is cold or hot, slurping allows you to fully experience the aroma as you eat. It’s a similar idea to a wine tasting, where taste and aroma are both important for getting the full experience of the wine.

Additionally, slurping the noodles without biting off the noodle pieces also makes sure that you are getting all of the aromas and flavors. That’s why it’s important not to pick up too many noodles, even when eating soba noodles, which are thinner than ramen or udon noodles. 

Noodle Harassment? What’s That?

Why do asian slurp their food
Slurping noodles is just a normal part of Japanese culture, but visitors to Japan often don’t know this, leading to this strange phenomenon. Image via Shutterstock

Back in 2016, a new term was created called noodle harassment, or nu-hara (ヌーハラ), in which people expressed their distaste for very loud slurping sounds. In particular, the sound of slurping bothered tourists who were not used to the sounds. 

However, since 2016, ASMR eating, otherwise known as mukbang (eating on camera and online), has grown increasingly popular. People post their tasty noodle dishes online and show how they eat it. Often the videos focus on the sounds, especially their slurping. These videos have millions of views, proving that there are a number of people that actually enjoy the sounds of slurping noodles. 

The point is, despite noodle harassment existing, you should not worry about what others think while enjoying a rich, flavorful noodle dish. 

Whether you’re eating Japanese cup ramen from a convenience store, weird ramen flavors, or one of the delectable ramen dishes mentioned above, make sure to savor the mouth-watering taste and if you are up for it, give slurping noodles a try. 

Do you slurp your noodles? Does the sound bother you or is it natural to hear while eating noodles? Comment below to share your noodle slurping experience as well as your favorite Japanese noodle dish!

Why do asian slurp their food

Most Japanese people slurp their noodles as a matter of course, however many visitors to Japan may be puzzled as to why people would each in such a noisy manner. This article will cover the reasons why the Japanese slurp their noodles, as well as give some tips to help you slurp your noodles yourself!

Why do asian slurp their food

In the fall of 2016, there was a bit of a controversy surrounding "noodle harrassment" ("nu-hara" for short) that was brought about by a Twitter user who claimed that Japanese citizens noisily slurping noodles is such a cause of discomfort for foreign guests that it is a type of harassment. Soon, social network services as well as television media were involved in a huge debate between those who believe that slurping noodles is normal and those who believe that Japanese should take more care not to cause discomfort to foreigners while eating. Of course, making too much noise while eating is seen as lacking in manners even in Japan. However, noodles are the one exception to this, and many people enjoy slurping and making some noise while eating them. Here are a few reasons why people in Japan like to slurp their noodles.

Noodle Slurping Reason #1: To Enjoy the Flavor of the Noodles

There are primarily two reasons why Japanese people slurp their noodles. The first is that slurping actually enhances the flavor of the food. Slurping the noodles allows one to take noodles and air into their mouth at the same time, which works to further bring out the flavor of the noodles. For example, consider a wine tasting in which the wine is swirled around in the glass in order to give it more contact with the air and increase the fragrance, which is enjoyed by sniffing with the nose.

Noodles are slightly different, in that their fragrance is enjoyed by eating rather than sniffing. Thus, the air that you intake while slurping the noodles is vitally important!

Noodle Slurping Reason #2: To Eat Quickly

Noodles gradually lose their springy texture over time, with their peak springiness being right after being boiled. Because of this, Japanese people have developed the habit of eating their noodles as quickly as possible before they start to soften in the soup. It is thought that slurping noodles came about because of this desire, which makes this the 2nd reason why people in Japan like to slurp their noodles.
Furthermore, when soba (buckwheat noodles) was first invented, it was eaten as a sort of "fast food" sold at street stalls, and noodles in general have been thought of as a food that is meant to be eaten quickly ever since. That idea is reflected in modern society, as you can see many tachi-gui (stand and eat) soba and udon (thick noodles) restaurants on train platforms to this day. The reason why you find shops selling soba and udon but not other foods is because they are seen as meals that can be eaten very quickly before catching a train. Japanese people probably slurp their noodles because of their intuition to eat noodle dishes quickly, an idea that has been around since olden times.

Try Slurping Some Noodles for Yourself!

There are probably many tourists from abroad who have never tried to eat noodles by slurping them. Since you've come all this way, why not give it a try while you're in Japan? With that, here is a guide for first-timers on how to properly slurp noodles. First, let's make the proper mouth shape in order to slurp the noodles. Purse your lips as if you are drinking through a straw, and then inhale some air. Then, once you have mastered that, practice inhaling some air and water at the same time. Purse your lips into the right shape and then try to suck up some water. If it makes the proper slurping sound then you are doing it correctly! Finally, try slurping some real noodles. For soba, while it is considered more tasteful to slurp the entirety of the noodles without biting into them halfway through, do not push yourself to hard.

If you find out that you don't like slurping noodles after trying it out, don't worry. You don't have to slurp noodles if you don't want to, but you should try at least once!

Enjoy Noodles However You Want

Despite the "noodle harassment" controversy mentioned at the beginning of this article, most Japanese people slurp their noodles at it is understood as the most delicious way to enjoy them. On the other hand, there are still some that do not slurp their noodles. How each person chooses to eat their noodles is up to them, and there's nothing wrong with enjoying your noodles the way you prefer. In order for that freedom of choice to continue, it is important for foreigners to understand the reasons why Japanese people slurp their noodles, which have been explained in this article.

Bonus: Fun Ways to Slurp Noodles

As a bonus, please enjoy this video, created by a Youtuber named SUSURU, that showcases some interesting ways to slurp noodles. Surely you will want to visit Japan to go on a slurping spree after seeing some of the scenes in this video!

This article has explained some of the reasons why Japanese people slurp their noodles. There are many different kinds of noodle-based dishes in Japanese cuisine, and you can learn a lot about Japan just through slurping!

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

Why do asian slurp their food

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