Towards the end of the soba meal the server brings out a square lacquer pot filled with milky colored water. This is "soba yu" and is some of the hot water that the soba is boiled in. The sluggish texture is from the buckwheat noodles and has an earthy aroma. This soba yu is then added to the tsuyu dipping broth and consumed like a savory tea. A nice way to finish the meal.
