Cumian facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cumian

Shanghai fried noodles
Type	Chinese noodles
Place of origin	China
Region or state	East Asia
Main ingredients	Wheat flour, water

Cumian (pronounced "tsoo-myen") are a type of thick Chinese noodles. The name Cumian literally means "thick noodles" in Chinese. These noodles are usually made from wheat flour and water, just like many other noodles around the world.

There are two main kinds of Cumian noodles that are popular in different parts of China:

Types of Cumian Noodles

Shanghai Style Cumian

One type of Cumian is the Shanghai style. These noodles are quite thick and round, similar to spaghetti but much wider. They are often used in a popular dish called Shanghai fried noodles. In this dish, the Cumian noodles are stir-fried with different ingredients like vegetables, meat, and a savory sauce. It's a very tasty and filling meal!

Hong Kong Style Cumian

The other type of Cumian is found in Hong Kong. These noodles are different because they are flat and wide, not round. Sometimes, they have a yellowish color because they are made with a special ingredient called alkaline water. This makes them a bit chewy and gives them a unique flavor.

Hong Kong style flat Cumian noodles are a favorite choice in a dish called Hong Kong's cart noodles. Cart noodles are like a build-your-own noodle soup. You can pick your favorite noodles, toppings, and broth from a cart or a small shop. The flat Cumian are a very popular option for this customizable meal.

How Noodles are Made

Making noodles like Cumian usually involves mixing wheat flour with water to create a dough. This dough is then kneaded until it's smooth and elastic. After that, the dough is rolled out flat and cut into long strips. The thickness and shape of the cut noodles depend on the type of noodle being made, whether it's the thick Shanghai style or the flat Hong Kong style.

Images for kids

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  Hong Kong style flat noodles in soup