Description
The Chinese believe that noodles provide a harmonious dietary balance. Whether you slurp them, gulp them down, or twirl them on your fork, everyone seems to love noodles.
China with a host of exotic food items, including noodles. When it comes to length, however, they are usually served long and uncut. This is because long noodles symbolize a long life in Chinese tradition. Noodles are commonly served at birthday celebrations, and fresh noodles are regularly placed at gravesites.

Chinese noodles, known collectively as mien, fall into three main categories. The most common are wheat flour noodles, which can be made with or without eggs. While today wheat flour noodles are enjoyed throughout China, they originated in the north, where wheat is a staple crop. Depending on the remaining ingredients, wheat noodles can be white or yellow, thin as spaghetti or thick as fettucine, stiff or extremely elastic.

Chinese wheat noodles can appear in two different shapes. Some varieties of these Chinese noodles are flat. The flat noodles are usually prepared in long sections, and may appear in more than one thickness. The round types of these wheat noodles are usually very thin and often appear as long coiled sections. Round noodles are often used as a base when preparing soup with a few vegetables and a beef or chicken based broth.
Regardless of the appearance of the Chinese wheat noodles, the recipe for making the noodles is a simple one. There are only three ingredients: wheat flour, water, and salt. The finished product will have a dull white to a slightly yellow tint to the pasta. One thing that makes Chinese wheat noodles so appealing is that they take very little time to cook.

How to Select
Choose from the varieties available in the market. It is easily available in small as well as large packets, buy as desired. Also, they are made of different ingredients. Hence, make certain to read the label and then purchase. Read well the dates stamped - manufacturing as well as expiry.

Culinary Uses
· Noodles are eaten hot or cold, steamed, stir-fried, deep-fried, boiled, or served in a soup.
· Readers often ask me to explain the difference between lo mein and chow mein noodles. Actually, the difference between the two lies not in the type of noodles used, but in the way the two dishes are prepared. In the case of chow mein, the ingredients are stir-fried and then served over noodles that have been prepared separately. By contrast, lo mein involves tossing boiled noodles in the wok and mixing them with other ingredients during the final stages of cooking. This allows the noodles to pick up more of the sauce flavor.
· There are no hard and fast rules about what type of noodles to use with either dish. It tastes well with everything.
· Chinese noodles can also be used successfully in the place of rice to make a pudding, making it possible for persons who are trying to avoid a lot of starch to still enjoy something sweet with the meal. Because the noodles tend to absorb flavors very well, they will easily blend in with the spices and extracts used to make the pudding.

How to Store
Storing Chinese noodles requires no special type of container or conditions. It is a good idea to store the Chinese noodles in an airtight container, and make sure the container is stored is a cupboard that is no more than room temperature. The Chinese noodles will last for a year or more without losing any of the basic flavor, or developing a taste that seem slightly off.

Health Benefits
· Chinese wheat noodles are relatively low in cholesterol and carbohydrates; they are a great alternative to other forms of pasta.
· For the nutritionally-inclined, noodles is an excellent option, when combined with plenty of steamed veggies.