Where Are Ramen Noodles Made? What you might not know
Ramen noodles are a classic favorite, happily consumed by young or old. Some students can’t imagine life without them, as ramen is generally affordable and luckily very affordable. Whether we are talking about the pre-packaged version where you only have to add hot water or the one that’s more like a proper meal, either way, we love it.
Have you ever thought about where ramen actually comes from? Keep reading to find out where ramen comes from, and if it differs per brand.
Check out our new cookbook
Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.
Try it out for free with Kindle Unlimited:
Read for freeOriginally From China
According to official records from the Yokohoma Ramen Museum, ramen actually originated in China. Interestingly enough, over time it made its way to Japan and remained there. So, ramen is the Japanese version of Chinese wheat noodles.
It can be argued whether the noodles come from China or Japan, but the simplest and probably most fair way to put it is that the wheat noodles originated in China, and the Japanese adaption that is now known as “ramen” originates in Japan.
Different Kinds of Broth
There are four different, main ramen soup broths, and these all originate from Japan.
- Shio Ramen: Probably the most basic, but also the most traditional type of ramen broth. It is seasoned only with salt and is generally light of taste.
- Shoyu Ramen: This broth is based on soya sauce and is often made from chicken, but it can also be made from pork. Traditionally, this depends on the region.
- Miso Ramen: This broth is flavored with “miso” or soybean paste.
- Tonkotsu Ramen: This broth is the heaviest, and creamiest one. It is made from pork bones and is quite thick.
Of course, if you go to a restaurant to eat ramen, you will be able to find many more broth flavors, combinations, and you will be able to add your own favorites.
Read my entire article on the different ramen flavors here if you want to learn more about this
Instant Ramen Noodles
Instant ramen noodles (the ones where you only add hot water) also originate from Japan and were created by Momofuku Ando.
Many of us find comfort in instant ramen noodles just because it so quick, so easy, and surprisingly filling. It comes in a variety of different flavors and it’s almost hard to choose which one to take, so we usually just take them all!
Instant Ramen Brands
It is not only instant ramen flavors that seem endless, it is the brands that produce them that are countless. From Indonesia, Russia, Nigeria, to the UK, there are companies that produce instant ramen, cup noodles, pot noodles, or whatever you like to call them.
Nowadays it is hard to pin down exactly where your ramen noodles come from, as there are so many different manufacturers and companies that make them, it is better to just enjoy them and not investigate too much into the origin of your specific package.
Also read: what is the oriental flavor ramen, and is it good?
Regular Ramen Noodles
If you are looking to go all-out and you want to make your own homemade ramen, then this is certainly possible. In this case, you are able to get original Japanese noodles to complete your dish. Of course, if you don’t feel like going all the way, there are again countless other brands to choose from.
Conclusion
To summarize, the creation that is known as ramen noodles comes from Japan, and so do instant ramen noodles. Originally, this is where they are made. As of nowadays, with such high demand and high popularity of both the ramen dish and the instant ramen noodles, there are endless amounts of producers in a range of countries.
It is hard to pin down where exactly ramen is made because the answer is: almost everywhere. Nevertheless, if you want to go for the original experience, you are able to get your hands on some authentic Japanese ramen noodles.
Also read: these are the ramen condiments you should try next time you order
Check out our new cookbook
Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.
Try it out for free with Kindle Unlimited:
Read for free
Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.
