Nissin’s Cup Noodles became the world’s first noodles sold in a cup when they launched in Japan in 1971.
Momofuku Ando developed the product after observing that American customers often broke instant noodle blocks into containers and added hot water. The cup combined packaging, noodles, seasoning and dehydrated toppings in one portable serving. Consumers only needed to add boiling water and wait several minutes.
Cup Noodles is sometimes mistaken for Chicken Ramen, Nissin’s earlier product from 1958. Chicken Ramen was sold as a packaged noodle block, while Cup Noodles introduced the foam-polystyrene serving cup. The product was originally called Cup Noodle in Japan, although the plural form “Cup Noodles” is common internationally. Nissin later created many regional flavors and versions.