Asian Soup: Its Multicultural Roots

In an ideal world, a soup is just plain water mixed with either vegetable or meat, or perhaps sometimes both. It is then placed to a boil to achieve a broth-like finish. It can either be thick in consistency or thin (clear).

Ancient culture believe that cold drinks can be detrimental to your digestive system that's why soups, and that's hot soups are prepared as a drink with a meal. From that primitive concept, soups have then evolved to what we know them today. From its humble beginnings of being just an ordinary hot drink in the morning, it has turned in to an average staple provision of many people of today especially to Asians.

Asian soups, unlike many other Western soups, can be a full meal as opposed to just being an appetizer. There are countless ways and techniques for its preparation depending on the region, although the most popular is with the incorporation of noodles. Here are the most popular Asian soups presented per country or region.

Japan

From the land of the rising sun hails the very popular Miso soup. It is a traditional Japanese drink known for its outstanding health benefits. It is defined by the infamous miso paste which gives the soup its rich characteristics. It is known to add vitality and longevity to a diner's life and a daily consumption of such is an established prevention for breast cancer.

Another famous Asian soup is the Japanese noodle soup which are traditionally served in a hot dashi broth and then adorned with sliced scallions. Popular embellishment and toppings include tempura or tofu.

China

The most popular form of Asian soup known to have originated from China is noodle soups. There are countless legends surrounding its origin and most of them are from China which is very much adapted today.

Beef noodle soup. These are soup in beef based stock, sometimes with chinks of stewed beef on top.

Philippines

La Paz Batchoy. A noodle soup topped with pork cracklings (crushed), chopped vegetables, pork innards and then crested with a raw egg on top.

Menudo, not the band, but the soup is a traditional food which has originated from Mexico, although variations are made in the Philippines. It is even considered as a Sunday's soup served with the family. Aside from its profound use of bringing the family closer, Menudo is also known to alleviate and cure to hangovers.

Asian Soup is a very extensive culinary masterpiece not only enjoyed by Asians but is rapidly growing popularity amongst the Westerners. For most Asians, a day wouldn't be complete without consuming one steaming bowl of Asian soup.
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Corrie Duana, an expert in Soups, is a writer for ArticleMash.com.