The World’s First Instant Noodles Was Actually A High-SES Product


Advertisements
 

Everybody knows instant noodles, right?

They’re the saviour of poor students and broke adults, and most parents wouldn’t consider it a meal.

Read Also: S’pore’s Favourite Ah Lian Salesgirl Speaks Out About Her Inspiring Story

At most, it’s just a snack.

And we all know how unhealthy it is. If not, take a look at this video we’ve done:

But did you know that back in days long gone, instant noodles were not just considered a meal, but a luxurious one?

Here’s what you need to know about glorious instant noodles and why it was created in the first place.

The Reason Why Instant Noodles Existed In The First Place

The year is 1945 and the world is reeling from a 6-year war that has just ended.

Image: Flickr

Food shortages were pretty commonplace, including Japan, one of the main perpetrators of the war.

During that period, the Japanese Ministry of Health encouraged their people to eat bread made from wheat.

The wheat was supplied by the United States to help Japan get back on its feet after the war.

Enter Momofuku Ando, the inventor of Maggie Mee

Image: wikipedia.com

The story goes that Ando was walking in Osaka when he noticed people gathering around a ramen soup stall, waiting to eat.

That was when he felt that Japanese people turned to ramen for comfort.

When he asked the Ministry why they did not encourage the Japanese people to eat noodles, the answer he got was that noodles supply companies were too small and unstable to fulfil the supply needed for the endeavour.

“Peace Will Come When There’s Enough Food To Eat”

Ando had wanted to help feed Japan’s population. And he wanted to do it by coming up with the perfect post-war food item. It has to be:

  • Tasty
  • Nonperishable
  • Ready in less than three minutes
  • Economical
  • Safe and health

And remembering the ramen scene after the war, he decided to work on a mass-produced noodle soup.

After a year of trying, he didn’t manage to get the taste right.


Advertisements
 

Until one day, he just threw some noodles into hot tempura oil his wife had heated up to make dinner and discovered the magical secret.

When you fry the noodles, they get dehydrated. Not only that, it’ll create tiny perforations that made the noodles cook faster.

And so born, the world’s first ramen: Chikin Ramen

(Article continues below) Xing Xing is a 34-year-old Singaporean lady who decides to meet up with an online friend she found in Facebook. But it turns out that he’s not what he seems to be: Prepare boxes of tissue and watch the saddest Singapore Facebook love story here:

(Since you’re here, subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more informative videos lah)


Advertisements
 

It Was High-SES To Eat Instant Noodles

Now, people know instant noodles as low-SES meals. But when it first came out, it was high-SES.

When it first started selling in stores, it cost slightly more than fresh soup at the local ramen store.

However, people were attracted to the idea of cooking their own ramen at home at their own convenience.

Instant noodles became a staple in Japan.

Image: Pinterest

And when Ando invented cup noodles in 1971, instant noodles mania took over the entire world.

And the rest, as they say, is history.


Advertisements
 

Always bored during your commute to and fro work or school? Here’s the best solution: download our app for new articles, Facebook videos and YouTube videos that are updated daily…and most importantly, exclusive contents that are only available in our app! It’s your perfect companion for your daily commute!

Click Here to Download the App!