How Cup Noodles Became the Instant Ramen for Americans

[left-of-center2012]

Released in Japan 50 years ago, the portable meal proved to be one of the biggest transpacific business success stories of all time. Cup Noodles – first marketed in Japan 50 years ago, on Sept. 18, 1971, with an English name, the “s” left off because of a translation mistake – are portable instant ramen eaten with a fork straight from their white, red and gold cups. Americanized as “Cup O’Noodles” – and later renamed “Cup Noodles,” with an “s,” in 1993.

Cup Noodles were created by the same person who invented instant ramen, Ando Momofuku, who, in 1948, founded Nissin Foods. In the mid-1960s, Japanese sales of his Chikin Ramen – and spinoff products like “Spagheny,” an instant spaghetti created in 1964 – declined, in part, because of market saturation. Ando then sought a new market for instant ramen: the United States.

After much trial and error, the Nissin team devised a way to wrap a plastic foam cup around dried noodles placed in the center for easy expansion. Different flavors were placed atop the noodles to help them cook better and make them look like a fuller meal. The cup had a pull-back lid inspired by a container of macadamia nuts Ando had eaten on his transpacific flight.

Otaka Takeshi, who created the logo for the Osaka 1970 world’s fair, designed the cup to look cosmopolitan and cutting edge, with large English words in a red psychedelic font above small Japanese words and with gold bands inspired by expensive dinner plates. Cup Noodle included around the same amount of ramen as the dried packs but cost four times as much because it was more expensive to make. The price made Cup Noodle seem luxurious.

long article at:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-cup-noodles-became-instant-ramen-for-americans-180979183/

[badhair77]

1. In my first year of teaching I loved the coo of noodles with baby shrimp but

realized there was just too much salt involved. I should check if they’ve changed anything. I’ve seen them in the market and didn’t think to check. It was an easy meal with my heated water in my hot pot from college. Good memory.

[left-of-center2012]

2. Note the sodium ...

[badhair77]

7. Thanks for saving me the effort in the market.

Between the sodium and the carbs I’m a dead woman. I’m sure it doesn’t taste as good as I remembered, but it was quick.

[hlthe2b]

3. Tastes reasonably good & filling, but not a damned thing in that cup providing healthy nutrition.

Full of sodium, once full of transfats (but they did at least remove them), highly processed simple carbs with virtually no nutrients. But when you are "starving," they are a cheap, easy solution I suppose. In moderation, they aren't going to kill ya.

And, Cup O'Noodles sounded ok. Cup Noodles sounds strange. But, that is me.

[livetohike]

4. Got me through college in the early 70's. We weren't allowed

to cook in our dorm room, but we had a hot plate and boiled water.

[Effete Snob]

5. You need the full kit to really appreciate them

[left-of-center2012]

6. A 16 minute video?

Uh, no thanks