A ‘Cook Simply’ Philosophy — Chatting with Hakubaku

Tell us about your organic noodles.

Hakubaku, a leading brand of Japanese noodle, is well-known for its outstanding quality. Hakubaku’s authentic Japanese organic noodles are the world’s favourite. We epitomise the attention to detail found at the heart of Japanese culture.
Hakubaku found its home in Ballarat, Victoria, due to the area’s high-quality wheat flour.

Hakubaku has six organic noodle products available in Australia:

Soba: Soba are thin, brown to grey Japanese noodles made of wheat and buckwheat flour. They are used in various hot and cold dishes. Soba can also be used in stir-fries and salads.
Udon: Udon are flat with a texture suitable for more hearty dishes. Udon can be served cold or hot with various toppings. Some dishes also mix udon and soba to give a variety of textures. Hakubaku’s udon are made from organic wheat flour.
Ramen: Ramen are thin, Chinese-style noodles made from organic soft wheat. They have a slightly chewy, pleasing texture and are suitable for hearty dishes. Ramen is often added to hot broths with various toppings, such as sliced pork and seaweed, or can be used in stir-fries.
Somen: Somen are the thinnest of all Japanese noodles. They are almost like vermicelli, and are quick to cook. During summer, somen is served chilled or in iced water with a dipping sauce. Somen is also added to stir-fries and soups, including the famous nyumen.
Cha soba: Cha soba are soba noodles made from organic wheat and buckwheat flour with the added ingredient of organic green tea powder. Hakubaku’s cha soba is packed in lightproof foil packaging to keep the freshness and nutritional value of the green tea, which begins to degrade when exposed to oxygen or light.
• Yakisoba: The newest addition to the Hakubaku range, Yakisoba are soba noodles made from organic wheat flour. Yakisoba is the Japanese version of stir-fried noodles. The noodles are often cooked with various toppings such as sliced meat and vegetables.

What is the story of your brand?

A world-wide search for premium ingredients brought Hakubaku Japan to Australia’s fertile lands. To produce the best Japanese noodles, a lot of Japanese companies prefer to use Australian wheat because of its fine, organic qualities. Ballarat, Victoria, became the Australian home of Hakubaku in 1998.

What has been the highlight of your brand story?

Our dedication to sustainability is a definite highlight.

Another highlight is our “cook simply” philosophy. Although Japanese culture can be austere, its food is known and admired for its surprising simplicity, visual appeal and healthfulness.

What has been the most challenging part of the journey?

Many customers have the impression that Japanese cuisine is difficult to prepare. It is true that a typical Japanese chef will have to go through a minimum apprenticeship period of five years before being able to handle basic food preparation.
However, in terms of everyday cooking, Hakubaku makes Japanese cooking easy and convenient without compromising on quality or flavour.

There is a strong interest in Japanese culture and cuisine in the local market due to a growing number of well-travelled Australians. There’s also a growing demand for a simple and quick meal, especially with time-starved and health-conscious working professionals.

This provides a great opportunity for Hakubaku in the marketplace to meet consumers’ needs with a bowl of quick and healthy Japanese noodles. With a good variety of noodle selection, everyone can find their favourite with Hakubaku.

Why is being certified organic important to your brand?

Using organic ingredients that are grown using sustainable methods is a key part of our strategy. Hakubaku’s authentic Japanese noodles are certified organic.

Organic certification ensures Hakubaku noodles are produced without the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides or insecticides or genetically modified ingredients.

With over 12 million hectares of organic land, Australia has nearly one-third of all the organic land in the world. Hakubaku’s commitment to organic wheat contributes to this Australian farmland staying organic.

By buying Hakubaku’s organic Japanese noodles you are also contributing to the long-term viability of Australia’s organic wheat farmers.

What makes Hakubaku noodles so special?

After years of intensive research, Hakubaku has continued to improve its noodle-drying process to perfection. Silky smooth with a delightful, toothsome bounce, Hakubaku’s range of noodles are dried using a unique, patented process — the right combination of temperature, humidity and time for that perfect firm texture.

Where can we buy your product?

Our products are available in mainstream supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths and more), independent supermarkets, organic stores and at Asian grocery stores throughout Australia.

For more information visit hakubaku.com.au