Where did Noodles Really Come From?

Noodles. You know them, you’ve slurped them, and many of us absolutely love them. But from where, when and who were the first to make them?

Probable Answer 1: China

One of the most popular pasta origin stories is of Marco Polo travelling to ancient China. After slurping lots of yummy wheat noodles, he brought the recipe and sample back to Europe. Thus inspired the creation of pasta and spaghetti.

While the validity of this tale is debatable, archaeological findings do suggest that noodles were eaten in China nearly 4,000 years ago. Which pre-dates even the earliest record of noodle enjoyment, written during the East Han Dynasty between 25 and 220AD.

In any case, China is undeniably the birthplace of Asian noodles, and has evolved noodle-making into an incredible culinary art. Chinese noodles landed on Japanese shores around the 9th Century AD; Korea, around the 14th Century; and later to ancient Southeast Asia via sea trade. All of these cultures have adapted and developed their own unique noodles over the ages.

Probable Answer 2: Middle East / Central Asia

Here’s the thing, though: Italians have long refuted the Marco Polo story. Some claim pasta had been around before the man was even born. While the actual facts are somewhat muddled, most historians agree that pasta is likely an adaptation. Born from the trade and cultural exchanges between ancient Europe, Middle Eastern and Central Asian peoples – who were the first to cultivate Durum wheat, the quintessential pasta ingredient.

Conclusion: Maybe both

As of writing, historians have no definitive answer for the first noodle-makers. But that proves human ingenuity isn’t limited to one place or one culture. Some foods and other inventions may be created independently by different peoples, and at different points of history.

For noodles, both the Chinese and Central Asians may have first created their own versions around the same time period. And through the voyages and interactions between cultures, noodles have become a near ubiquitous fave food around the world.

Anyway, has all this talk about noodles stirred your craving? Then come check out our flavour-packed collection of Asian noodle recipes!