William. A product’s quality, reputation or other characteristics can be determined by where it comes from. Geographical indications are place names used to identify products originating in and sharing characteristics of their homeland (for example, “Champagne”, “Tequila” or “Roquefort”). One wonders why “somen” is not simply termed “Kumamoto.” Kumanichi reports on the winter tradition of “cold somen fabrication,” when extra-fine noodles hand-rolled by craftsmen and cut to a length of about 3.5 meters and an extra-fine thickness of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm are dried in the sun, shimmering like silk thread. Kumanichi has the details. Get ’em while they’re still sea-breeze tinted.
William. A product’s quality, reputation or other characteristics can be determi…
