100 % Soba is non-wheat noodles made only by buckwheat while other soba uses wheat. Buckwheat is a small pyramid shaped grain which was first grown in Japan about 1,500 years ago.

Soba noodle was originally served chilled with a dipping sauce, but people eventually found it easier to pour the broth over noodles. Soba served in hot broth as a noodle soup became popular in cold winters, and for variety, different ingredients were added as toppings. Soba is very nourishing, and there is a legend which tells of a monk and a hermit who secluded themselves deep in the mountains and survived only on Soba in the old days.

In today's context soba is a super food rich in both protein and calcium. It contains nearly twice the levels of Vitamin B1 found in wheat. It may contribute to maintenance of mental function. Buckwheat husks also contain rutin, a type of vitamin P. Rutin helps strengthen capillary vessels by thickening and giving elasticity.