Who invented the Noodle/Pasta?

A Brief History of the Noodle

Ah, the humble noodle. Noodles are a Vietnamese restaurant’s bread and butter- we go through so many cases of them every day! This staple ingredient is often taken for granted, but it has a long and textured history dating back thousands of years. We love noodles at Toronto Pho, and you might enjoy learning more about them too.

Who invented the noodle?

The noodle is thought to have originated in China around 4,000 years ago. However, the first recorded mention of noodles is in a Chinese book from the Eastern Han Dynasty, which describes a soup made with wheat flour and water. Noodles quickly became a popular foodstuff in China due to their versatility and affordability.

What about Italy? Who invented Pasta?

Noodles eventually made their way to Italy via Marco Polo in the 13th century. It is thought that Polo learned about noodles during his travels in China and brought the recipe back with him to Italy. Italian Pasta is made from durum wheat milled into semolina flour. This type of flour gives Pasta its signature yellow colour. Pasta is then extruded through dies of different shapes to create different kinds of noodles, such as spaghetti, macaroni, and fusilli.

What countries make noodles?

Japanese noodles are made from wheat flour but sometimes include buckwheat or rice flour. The dough is usually kneaded with salt and water and then allowed to rest before being rolled out into thin sheets. These sheets are then cut into strips of varying widths to create different types of noodles, such as soba, udon, and ramen.

Korean noodles are also made from wheat flour but sometimes include sweet potato or buckwheat flour. Unlike Japanese noodles, which are rolled out into thin sheets, Korean dough is hand-pulled into long strands. These strands are then cut into shorter lengths to create different types of noodles, such as naengmyeon and kalguksu.

Vietnamese noodles are usually made from rice flour but can also be made from tapioca or wheat flour. The dough is usually rolled out into thin sheets, then cut into strips of varying widths to create different types of noodles, such as pho and bun. Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup which is enjoyed by millions of people around the world! The bun is rice vermicelli, often used in salads or as a side dish.

Who has the best noodles in the world?

That, my friends, is up for debate. If you like chewy noodles, then Chinese or Japanese noodles might be more your style.

If you prefer a softer noodle, then Italian Pasta or Vietnamese rice noodles might be more to your liking.

And if you like your noodles with a bit of spice, then Korean noodles might be the way to go.

Can anything be a noodle?

Well, technically speaking, no. A noodle is a ribbon- or string-shaped piece of Pasta made from unleavened dough boiled in water. But you can still get creative with your noodles! So go ahead and enjoy your noodles however you like them best. Zucchini noodles, anyone?

What country makes the most noodles?

China is the world’s leading noodles producer, followed by Italy and Japan. In 2018, China produced over 38 million tonnes of noodles, while Italy produced 3.5 million tonnes, and Japan produced 2.7 million tonnes.

What is the most popular type of noodle?

Spaghetti, Egg Noodle, Rice Noodle and Vermicelli are the most popular type of noodles cooked worldwide, followed by Ramen. Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup which consists of wheat noodles in a broth made from meat or vegetables.

How many noodles are eaten in a day?

According to the World Instant Noodles Association, approximately 96 billion servings of instant noodles are consumed yearly. This equates to approximately 260 million servings per day or 3 Billion bowls of noodles!

Now that you know everything there is to know about noodles go out and enjoy them!

What is your favourite type of noodle? Let us know in the comments below!

What Does TorontoPHO offer?

If you’re looking for Asian-style Pho soup in Kleinburg, Vaughan, Toronto, Woodbridge, or Hamilton, visit TorontoPho.com.

We are a growing Vietnamese restaurant committed to serving authentically prepared Asian Vietnamese foods done right and healthy. Our PHO is a proud creation, alongside so many of our other menu items.