National Noodle Day - October 6, 2024

History of National Noodle Day

Noodles, a staple food in many cultures, has an intricate history spanning thousands of years. The earliest mention of noodles can be traced back to an East Asian region around 2000 BC. In China, during the early Han Dynasty in the 1st or 2nd century AD, dough was made from wheat, simply mixed with water to form a paste, then molded into the shape of rudimentary pasta that we could consider as the earliest form of noodles.

In the 13th century, Marco Polo supposedly introduced noodles to Italy from his travels to China, but that’s a myth. Pasta was already consumed in Italy by then, although it had a different form and method of preparation than today. By the Renaissance period, dried pasta became popular since it could be stored for long.

The 15th century saw the opening of pasta factories in Italy, leading to large scale production. Pasta was mixed with local ingredients to create dishes such as lasagna, spaghetti, and ravioli. A century later, pasta made its way to America through the exploration travels and was later popularized by the mass migration of Italians in the 19th century.

Japanese traditional noodles, like Udon, Soba, and Ramen, also have deep history, and most of them were introduced from China and adapted to its own culture, which have become now what’s uniquely theirs.

In modern times, noodles come in an array of varieties, thanks to global exploration and blending of cultures. From instant noodles to traditional Italian pasta, the humble noodle has definitely come a long way in its journey through history.