Where were noodles invented?
Quick Answer
Noodles are generally believed to have originated in China, where the oldest known noodles, about 4,000 years old, were found.
The Full Story
In 2005 archaeologists announced the discovery of a bowl of noodles at the Lajia site in northwestern China, buried by an ancient earthquake and flood. The noodles, made from millet, were estimated to be about 4,000 years old. Written records of noodles in China appear during the Eastern Han dynasty, around 2,000 years ago. Noodles later spread across Asia, developing into forms like Japanese ramen and udon and Vietnamese pho. The popular story that Marco Polo brought pasta from China to Italy is a myth, as Italians had pasta before his travels.
Key Facts
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