What vegetable is used to make the ramen topping 'menma'?

The vegetable used to make the ramen topping menma is bamboo shoots. Menma is made from bamboo shoots that are processed, fermented, dried, and seasoned before being added to noodle soups.

The product is closely related to the Chinese food sunsi, traditionally made from shoots of sweet bamboo. In Japan, menma became especially associated with ramen, where its chewy texture and mildly salty, savory flavor contrast with soft noodles and rich broth.

The name “menma” is commonly explained as a blend of ramen, or men, and machiku, a type of bamboo used in its production. Before the modern name became widespread, the topping was also called shinachiku, meaning “Chinese bamboo.” Menma is sometimes confused with scallions, nori, or bean sprouts, but those are separate ramen toppings rather than the ingredient that defines menma.