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A unique noodle dish called Nittanosho Kanzanatei, sold at a small eatery in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, has garnered attention online because it's not even on the menu. This so-called "divine noodle" is primarily sold as a souvenir, cooked at home, or given as a gift, but it's so visually appealing that people can't stop talking about it. Many tourists jokingly say that trying this noodle dish is like "paying off bad karma while eating."
This unique noodle dish is being sold at a small eatery in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Although not on the menu, it still attracts the attention of many diners.
With its eye-catching appearance, many diners seem unable to stop talking about this unusual noodle dish. Cut into thick sheets, these unique noodles have large, rectangular-like characters printed on them with edible ingredients that remain visible even after cooking. So you can actually read your food while you're eating it.
A packet of spiritual noodles features the entire Heart Sutra, one of the most sacred texts in Buddhism, printed on it. At many temples, the Heart Sutra is usually distributed to visitors in paper form, but Nittanosho Kanzanatei has been innovative, suggesting that the Heart Sutra can also be used on noodles instead of paper.
A packet of instant noodles contains approximately 260 Buddhist characters.
This entire packet of spiritual instant noodles is printed with the complete Heart Sutra, one of the most sacred texts in Buddhism.
It is believed that by reciting or copying the Heart Sutra, one can achieve peace of mind, escape suffering, or even be cured of illness. It is considered sacred and seen as a shining candle ending the darkness of suffering. The Heart Sutra also addresses the concept of emptiness and is often recited by monks at funerals or memorial services, or as a meditation practice in temples. This is the main reason why Nittanosho Kanzanatei does not serve this spiritual noodle dish at its restaurant; it is best enjoyed at home, where diners have privacy.
This spiritual instant noodle packet contains the entire Heart Sutra, consisting of 260 characters. In addition to the noodles and broth, each packet also includes a sheet of furigana (Chinese characters) to help read the more difficult kanji, and a guide to translating it into modern languages for those new to Buddhist scriptures.
At many temples, the Heart Sutra is often given to visitors in paper form, but Nittanosho Kanzanatei has been innovative and suggests that the Heart Sutra can also be used on noodles instead of paper.
Each noodle strand is inscribed with lines from the Heart Sutra (Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra), one of the sacred mantras in Buddhist scriptures.
According to Nittanosho Kanzanatei, these spiritual noodles are printed using a mixture of bamboo charcoal and edible caramel coloring derived from wheat. Although the inscriptions will fade slightly after cooking, they are perfectly visible and legible to diners. While they can be boiled, the restaurant recommends cooking them with accompanying vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, onions, and taro.
Add raw noodles to hot water until they boil, then add them to the soup so that the "writing" on the noodles doesn't run or disappear.
This spiritual noodle dish is said to be sold only in Gunma Prefecture. A three-serving pack comes with dashi seasoning for added flavor and costs 1,620 yen (approximately 300,000 VND).
Some Japanese diners commented that this sacred noodle dish is quite interesting, with chewy noodles, a rich broth, and well worth trying.
