What is Japanese ramen?

Ramen is getting more popular in Japan as "Japanese ramen", but it is also famous in America. When asked about the definition, even Japanese people may find it difficult to answer. While the Japanese recognize ramen as a food originating in China, the Chinese call it 'Japanese-style ramen' and accept it as a Japanese food.

According to the Kojien dictionary, the definition of ramen is “Ramen” Chinese-style soup soba. Boiled and put into soup."




The first element of ramen is the noodles. Chinese noodles used for ramen are based on the premise that ``kansui'' is used in the flour during the manufacturing process. This gives ramen its unique springiness and yellow color, which is different from other wheat-based noodles, including pasta and udon, and is a major characteristic of ramen.




The second is the soup stock. Ramen soup is made by adding three elements: dashi and tare, and depending on the type of ramen, fat/oil.

The main ingredients for dashi are animal ingredients such as pork bones, chicken bones, and beef bones, seafood ingredients such as kelp, dried sardines, shrimp, and sea bream, and vegetable ingredients such as onions, green onions, ginger, and garlic. They are offered in unique combinations to match their specialties. In addition to the raw materials, the method of making the dashi stock is also important. Broadly speaking, it can be divided into two types: "white hot water dashi," which is boiled over high heat for a long time and has a rich taste and flavor, and "clear hot water dashi," which is prepared at a temperature below boiling so as not to become turbid. Shirayu dashi is often used in pork bone ramen, and seiyu dashi is often used in soy sauce ramen.



Sauce
It is made by mixing spices and other seasonings and ingredients into the basic flavor seasoning. Among them, soy sauce sauce, salt sauce, and miso sauce are common.



fat/oil
Some local ramen are characterized by the use of fat/oil. This adds umami and also serves as a lid to keep the soup from cooling. Fats/oils used include scallion oil, ma oil, hot oil, lard or grilled lard, chicken oil, and shrimp oil.




The third is the ingredients. The ingredients used in ramen vary, but are often related to the style of local ramen served.

History of Ramen

Ramen is now a national dish of Japan, but it is said that ramen did not actually originate in Japan. The birthplace of ramen is said to be China. Chinese ramen differs from Japanese ramen in that it doesn't have a lot of chewiness, and it doesn't have as much soup as it does in Japan.
What is the history of such ramen?

Ramen has landed in Japan!

Ramen first came to Japan during the Edo period (1600-1868), and it is said that ramen flowed in from Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki, Hakodate, etc., when ports were opened. It is said that not only ramen but also many Chinese dishes have flowed in...
*There is a theory that Mito Komon was the first person to eat ramen in Japan.

Diffusion of ramen

After that, ramen spread all over Japan, and various types of ramen were born depending on the region. In the background, the influx of ramen was unpopular with Japanese people, not the taste that Japanese people like.

As a result, it seems that many ramens that suit the tastes of Japanese people were born.

Birth of instant noodles

Today, instant noodles are loved not only by Japanese people but also by people from many countries because they are easy to make and delicious.

In 1958, the world's first instant ramen was released, "Chicken Ramen".
Yes, instant noodles originated in Japan. I'm sure everyone has heard of "chicken ramen" at least once. In fact, today (2022 survey), it is sold for about 300 yen (5 meals, tax excluded). The price is 300 yen for 5 meals (60 yen per meal), so you can see that it is a very affordable price.


Thus, it spread to homes all over the country.



There are various cooking methods and history in ramen. Ramen is still loved as a national dish, but as Iwata said, there are people who feel that ramen is unhealthy.
I think there are many people who feel that they want to eat as much ramen as they can without worrying about their health.
So, I will explain how to eat ramen in a healthy way, and whether ramen is unhealthy in the first place.