Hele Noodles

Hele Noodles

　　Hele is an ancient type of noodle with a history of over 1,000 years. It is especially popular in northern China, particularly among rural households in Shanxi and northern Shaanxi. In different regions, it goes by various names—some call it hele noodles, some call it 0 zi noodles, some call it hele noodles (also spelled as "hele" or "hé le"), and others refer to it as pressed hele or rolled hele.

　　Hele noodles are firmer than biyu noodles but softer than knife-cut noodles, offering a uniquely smooth and tender texture. The noodles have a tight structure, uniform thickness, appropriate length, and a chewy yet palatable bite. They are truly delicious.

　　To make hele noodles, a special tool called a "hele bed" is used. The body of the hele bed is made from thick, curved wood, though nowadays some are made with metal machinery. In the center is a wooden core that acts like a piston, moving up and down. The traditional wooden hele bed features a cup-sized round hole carved into a piece of wood, which is open at both ends. At the bottom of the hole, there is a piece of iron or copper plate punctured with evenly distributed small holes of suitable size. Above the hele bed is a cylinder connected to an axle. The hele bed is placed over a pot, and the dough—kneaded into an oblong shape and briefly dipped in water—is placed into the round hole and then into the hele bed’s cavity. The wooden core is positioned at the opening of the hole, and then the handle of the hele bed is pressed down with force using a lever, squeezing the dough through the small holes into the boiling water in the pot. Once all the dough has been pressed through, the resulting noodle strands are cut off at the bottom with a knife, boiled until cooked, and then scooped out of the pot. These are served topped with various flavored sauces (known as "saozi," the stir-fried topping served over noodles, which people in Shanxi commonly refer to as "saozi"). It’s then ready to eat. Larger hele beds require the strength of two or three people to operate. However, smaller hele beds for home use are also available—they resemble the large ones but are much more compact in size.