Let’s let go of this year’s hardships with Donbei!

Hello! This is Payke writer, yui.
We’re already approaching the end of the year, aren’t we?
Something that’s done on New Year’s Eve in Japanese culture would be to “eat toshikoshi soba!”
Recently, there seem to be more people eating cup noodles for their toshikoshi soba.
So this time, I want to introduce you to the best cup noodles for toshikoshi soba!

What is Toshikoshi Soba?

Have you ever heard of “toshikoshi soba”?
And do you know why we started eating them?
Toshikoshi soba (year-end noodles) is a Japanese custom that began in the Edo period (around 1814).
It has been said that because soba noodles are easier to cut than other noodles, people began to eat them on the night before the new year to “‘cut off’ this year’s disasters/troubles.”
Now, to ‘cut off’ this year’s hardships, let’s take a look at some cup soba noodles!

Donbei: Kamodashi Soba & Tempura Soba [East]

This time, I’ll try these Donbei Kamodashi Soba (left) and Donbei Tempura Soba [East] (Right).
First up is the Kamodashi Soba.

When you open the lid, you’ll find the soup stock and seasoning packets inside.

Once you take out the packets, open only the seasoning packet and add it to the cup before pouring in the boiling water.

When you pour in the boiling water, you’ll be able to smell the scent of green onions.
It smells really good!
After waiting for 3 minutes, add in the soup broth packet and you’re ready to eat!

When you slurp the noodles, you’ll taste the charcoal grilled-like flavors.
After one bite, my first thought was- delicious!
Although it’s a bit disappointing that there’s only a few toppings inside, you can taste the strong flavors of the meat topping.
The broth is slightly sweet and is refreshing, and on top of that, you can happily go drinking after your meal.
As for the allergen information, it contains wheat・soba・egg・dairy・shrimp・pork・chicken・soy.

Next, I’ll try the Tempura Soba [East].

When you open the lid, remove the soup broth powder・the seven-spices seasoning・tempura from the cup.

Add in the soup powder first, and then pour in the boiling water.
You can smell the nice scent of the soup broth!

After 3 minutes, add in the seasoning and the tempura.

Because I placed the tempura after, it’s very crunchy!
It’s delicious when you let the tempura absorb the soup broth too.
The seven-spice seasoning is slightly spicy and adds a very nice kick to the noodles.
The soup broth is a bit on the richer side.
As for the allergen information, it contains wheat・soba・egg・dairy・shrimp・mackerel・soy・sesame.
For tempura soba, its broth tastes different in Western Japan and Eastern Japan, so it might be fun to try and compare their flavors!
Both the noodles in the Kamodashi Soba and Tempura Soba will soften and begin to break easily if you eat too slowly, so be careful!
The Kamodashi Soba is sold all over Japan and the Tempura Soba [East] is sold in Eastern Japan, and one is sold for 180 yen (tax excluded).
At the end of 2017, let’s eat some toshikoshi soba and let go of this year’s hardships!