Slurp Loudly, It Is Polite

In many places, slurping your food loudly is rude. In Japan, when you eat noodles, slurping is actually polite.

Katika sehemu nyingi, kula chakula kwa sauti ni kukosa adabu. Japani, unapokula tambi, kufyonza kwa sauti ndiyo adabu hasa.

There are good reasons for this. Slurping pulls in air with the noodles, which cools down hot broth quickly. It also carries more smell and flavor to your nose while you eat, similar to how people sniff wine before tasting it. Loud slurping can even tell the cook that you are enjoying the meal.

Kuna sababu nzuri za hili. Kufyonza huvuta hewa pamoja na tambi, jambo linalopoza supu ya moto haraka. Pia hupeleka harufu na ladha zaidi puani mwako unapokula, sawa na jinsi watu wanavyonusa mvinyo kabla ya kuonja. Kufyonza kwa sauti kubwa kwaweza hata kumwambia mpishi kwamba unafurahia chakula.

The habit started long ago, when noodles were fast street food and people ate quickly while standing. Next time you eat noodles somewhere like this, try it yourself. A little noise is not bad manners here. It is a compliment.

Desturi hii ilianza zamani, wakati tambi zilikuwa chakula cha haraka cha barabarani na watu walikula upesi wakiwa wamesimama. Mara nyingine ukila tambi mahali kama hapa, jaribu mwenyewe. Kelele kidogo si kukosa adabu hapa. Ni pongezi.