Spiral 100% Buckwheat Soba Noodles are made entirely of buckwheat flour, making them gluten and wheat free. A select variety of buckwheat is ground extra fine just to make these noodles. Buckwheat is rich in protein, minerals and bioflavonoids, and can help strengthen capillaries. It is also good for the digestion. Buckwheat contains as much vitamin B1 as brown rice and nearly twice the levels of B1 found in wheat. 100% Soba is non-wheat noodles made only by buckwheat while other soba uses wheat. Buckwheat is a small pyramid shaped grain which was first grown in Japan about 1,500 years ago. As Buckwheat does not posses the gluten that wheat has the making of Buckwheat only noodles is a true art. They may contain traces of gluten by being processed in a facility that processes other gluten products. Soba noodles were originally served chilled with a dipping sauce, but people eventually found it easier to pour the broth over noodles. Soba served in hot broth as a noodle soup became popular in cold winters, and for variety, different ingredients were added as toppings.