Noodles

Thailand, Tibet, and India (also Myanmar)

In this section, we delve into more recent historical events that have shaped the journey of noodles and their culinary use in India, Southeast Asia, and Myanmar (formerly Burma). As we explore the dynamic interplay of political shifts, cultural exchanges, and migration patterns, we uncover new dimensions of this beloved dish’s evolution.

India, Thailand, and Myanmar have historically shared close links due to extensive maritime trade routes and the overland Silk Road. Increased interaction between India and Southeast Asia during the British colonial period meant British administrators and soldiers, who had experienced Chinese cuisine in other parts of the British Empire, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, brought these culinary influences back to India. The movement of people between India, Myanmar, and Thailand further contributed to the sharing of culinary traditions. For example, the migration of Indian and Chinese communities to Myanmar and Thailand introduced dishes like paratha and noodles, such as the stir fried Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) which was later adapted to suit local Thai tastes.