Cup Noodles

Cup Noodles
	Two flavors available under the Cup Noodle (Japanese) brand.]
Produced by	Nissin
Introduced	1958

Cup Noodle (カップヌードル, Kappu Nūdoru) is a brand of instant ramen noodle snack manufactured by Nissin, packaged in a foam food container, hard plastic or paper cup. Other brand names are used in specific countries, such as the singular Cup Noodle in Japan, and the product has inspired numerous competitors, such as Maruchan's Instant Lunch. It is referred to as Cup Ramen in Japan.

History

Instant noodles were invented in 1958 by Momofuku Ando, the Taiwanese-born founder of the Japanese food company Nissin. He used Chikin Ramen (Chicken Ramen) as the first instant ramen noodles.

1970s

In 1970, Nissin formed the subsidiary Nissin Foods (USA) Co. Inc, to sell instant noodles in the United States. Nissin recognized that the bowls traditionally used to package instant noodles in Asia were not common in the U.S, so they used the paper cup. In 1971, they introduced instant ramen packaged in a foam cup. Originally, the product was known as Cup O' Noodles in the United States until 1993. In 1978, Nissin Foods offers new varieties of Top Ramen and Cup O' Noodles.

1990s

In 1998, Cup Noodles Hot Sauce Varieties introduced (Beef, Chicken, Pork and Shrimp).^[1]

Today

Cup of noodles not Cup noodles Today, instant noodles in Japan are often sold in foam bowls, sometimes with plastic utensils. Foam bowls are inexpensive, disposable, light, and easy to hold, since they insulate heat well.

German Cup Nudeln (Spicy flavor), old packaging

Different flavors are available in other parts of the world, such as tom yum in Thailand, curry in Japan, crab in Hong Kong, and brazilian barbecue in Brazil.^[2]

In 2016 the US version was changed, reducing sodium and removing MSG and artificial flavors. ^[3]

In popular culture

From 1996 to 2006, a 60-foot (18 m) Nissin Cup Noodle sign was installed in Times Square, New York City. It was located prominently near the top of the One Times Square building, the location of the Times Square Ball drop on New Year's Eve. The sign was the most recent example in a tradition of steaming signs in Times Square, which started with an A&P 8 O'Clock Coffee cup in 1933.^[4]

Cup noodles are often seen in the 2012 video game Binary Domain, which is set in a futuristic version of Tokyo. It is commonly seen in billboards and advertisements throughout the city, and is even seen being eaten by some characters.

The Cup Noodles advertisement at One Times Square
Close-up of the Times Square advertisement. Note the actual steam rising from the cup.

References

^ Nissin | History
^ Japanese Cup Noodle official website has the section "The Cupnoodle in the world" under the "Library", which lists Cup Noodles flavors all over the world.
^ Li, Shan. "Cup Noodles changes its recipe for the first time ever, hopping on the healthier food trend". latimes.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
^ New York Architecture Images- Midtown- times square short history 1

External links

[1] Nissin | History

[2] Japanese Cup Noodle official website has the section "The Cupnoodle in the world" under the "Library", which lists Cup Noodles flavors all over the world.

[3] Li, Shan. "Cup Noodles changes its recipe for the first time ever, hopping on the healthier food trend". latimes.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.

[4] New York Architecture Images- Midtown- times square short history 1

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