Hiyamugi facts for kids
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Hiyamugi (pronounced Hee-yah-moo-gee) are super thin Japanese noodles. They are made from wheat and are usually eaten cold. Think of them as a bit thicker than the thinnest Japanese noodle, sōmen, but thinner than the popular udon noodles. A Western noodle that looks a lot like hiyamugi is vermicelli.
Hiyamugi, just like sōmen, is a favorite meal during the hot summer months in Japan. While sōmen can sometimes be served warm, hiyamugi is almost always enjoyed cold. Sometimes it's even served over ice or floating in cool water in a clear glass bowl! These chilled noodles come with a special dipping sauce called tsukejiru. This sauce is made from dashi (a Japanese broth), soy sauce, and mirin (a sweet cooking wine).
History of Hiyamugi
Hiyamugi noodles have a long history in Japan. They are mentioned in a very old book from the 14th century called Zenrin Kouta. This book was written by a person named Ryoyo Shogei.
Noodles at Shōkoku-ji Temple
According to this old text, a famous temple complex called Shōkoku-ji Temple had special places to make noodles. They made both udon and hiyamugi noodles there. They also made steamed buns called manjū.
One specific temple within the Shōkoku-ji complex, called Uncho-in Temple, was in charge of making hiyamugi. These noodles were very popular in the summer. Because of this, the Uncho-in Temple started making hiyamugi every year on April 14th.
Old Diaries Mention Hiyamugi
Hiyamugi noodles also appear in other old writings. For example, the Onryo-ken Nichiroku are records kept by Kikei Shinzui between 1435 and 1466. These records were from the Rokuon-ji Temple, which was also part of the Shōkoku-ji Temple complex. While these records don't mention the everyday noodles eaten by the monks, they do talk about hiyamugi. Hiyamugi was served to visitors and guests during their special lunch meals.
Another mention of hiyamugi comes from the diaries of a Japanese nobleman named Yamashina Noritoki. In his diary, he wrote that on June 19, 1405, he had a visitor named Genseido. For a summer meal, he offered Genseido hiyamugi noodles. This shows that hiyamugi was a well-known and enjoyed food centuries ago!
