Topics: Food and Drink, Reddit, Social Media, World News, Travel, Thailand
People are flooding to social media over a restaurant which serves '50 year old soup'.
A restaurant in the Ekkamai neighborhood of Bangkok, Thailand has become known for simmering the same broth in the same pot for over 45 years.
While this may sound like a stomach bug just waiting to happen, there's much more of a story and reason behind the nearly five decades-long cooking process. And clearly, the restaurant must be getting something right if its reviews are anything to go by.
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The family-owned-and-run restaurant named Wattana Panich has become infamous for the lengthy stewing time of the broth of its beef noodle soup - called 'neua tune'.
The popular dish includes ingredients such as stewed and raw beef, tripes, garlic, cinnamon, black pepper, cilantro root and around a dozen Chinese herbs.
In 2020, third generation owner of the business Nattapong Kaweeantawong told Great Big Story: "[Translation] For 45 years, the broth of our soup has never been thrown away after a day's cooking. We have kept the broth overnight and then used it to cook the next day's soup.
"[...] The broth has been preserved and cooked for 45 years, thus giving it a unique flavor and aroma."
But surely this isn't very hygienic or safe? I hear you scream.
But fear not, because all is not quite as it seems.
"We removed the soup from the pot, then keep a little bit simmering overnight," he explains.
That 'little bit' left simmering in the pot then forms the basis for the soup the next day.
And the method - known as perpetual stew - clearly makes all the difference to the flavor of the dish given the restaurant's reviews on Trip Advisor.
One reviewer who visited the restaurant earlier this year in January wrote: "This place needs no introduction being famous for their 50 year old soup. [...] So is it worth the hype? I’d say yes.
"It’s a very small but delicious soup, at a very affordable price."
Another added: "Half a century old soup with beautiful flavours, meats, noodles and spices. This place is highly rated for a reason. A must try for the foodies!"
"Without a doubt best beef broth we have ever tasted, noodles were fantastic. Could just eat broth all day long and I am not a soup person. So good," a third commented.
So there you have it. The question is, would you give it a try?
