What is Somen?
Somen(Soumen/Soomen: そうめん/素麺) are very thin, white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour.
The noodles are usually served cold and are less than 1.3 mm in diameter, it's a refreshing Japanese noodle, traditionally eaten in the summer to cool off from the Japan's humid summers.
The distinction between Soumen and the next thicker wheat noodles Hiyamugi and even thicker Japanese wheat noodles Udon is mostly the size of the noodle.
Soumen are usually served cold with a light flavored dipping sauce or Tsuyu.
The Tsuyu is usually a Katsuobushi-based sauce that can be flavored with Welsh onion, ginger, or myoga.
In the summer, Soumen chilled with ice is a popular meal to help stay cool.
They're most famous for being eaten as "Nagashi Somen(流しそうめん）," noodles flying down a bamboo pipe as would-be eaters try to catch them with their chopsticks.
By the way, Soumen served in hot soup is usually called "Nyumen" and eaten in the winter, much like Soba or udon are.
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