One of the most popular foods during the summertime in Japan is "Hiyashi Chuka", which is cold ramen noodles with toppings and sauce. With the heat and humidity in the hottest months of Japan, the last thing you want to eat is something hot. The sauce is usually soy sauce and vinegar based. Sometimes it can be more of a creamy sesame seed sauce. The most common toppings are cucumber, fried egg, and ham. This is the most typical style of "hiyashi chuka"; however, anything really goes with the toppings.
In the Aichi area where I grew up, a dollop of mayonaise is mixed in with the noodles. Most regions will usually have hot mustard on the side instead. In the Hokkaido area, the toppings are more salad like. It is usually a limited summer time only menu at restaurants and is not available during the other seasons. It is a great refreshing summer dish that leaves you completely satisfied without feeling sluggish.
The cucumber, ham, and egg is typically julienned and arranged on top of the noodles like so...
Barley tea is also a favorite drink during the summertime. Green tea or barley tea is rarely sweetened in Japan. Open up any Japanese person's fridge during the summer and there is usually a pitcher of barley tea ready to be served.
Words for today:
summer - Natsu(na-tzu)
Cold ramen noodles - Hiyashi chuka(Hee-yah-shee Chew-kah)
Barley tea - Mugi cha(Moo-geeh chah)
sauce- tare(tah-leh)
