Ramen.
When that word is spoken, thousands upon thousands of millennials think about being back in college, stocking up on the cheapest food out there. A packet of Ramen, a bit of water, and you are set. Why waste money on food, after all?
Today we are trying eight different flavors of Ramen.
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Which Ramen flavors are we trying today?
Chicken
Shrimp
Pork
Creamy Chicken
Lime Chili Shrimp
Roast Chicken
Soy Sauce
Beef
Who is on this brothy quest?
Kris, basic ramen girl.
Nate, forced to be here.
Matt, a shrimp boy.
Amy, good vibes.
And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!
The History of Ramen
What if I told you Ramen is not just the cheap block of noodles with seasoning packets that you have been eating on the cheap for years. Would you be surprised?
Ramen actually has a robust and flavorful history.
And that history starts sometime in the 17th century when the wheat noodles associated with Ramen were brought to Japan by Chinese immigrants. The immigrants would enjoy these noodles with pork and vegetables.
After years of perfecting and enjoying the dish, in 1910, the first ramen restaurant would open in Japan, serving the dish to Tokyo diners. The popularity of ramen grew quite quickly.. Then in 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed Japan’s inland and coastal areas, including Tokyo, where most ramen chefs were concentrated. The earthquake dislocated these chefs, and they moved to different regions, which helped diversify the food into what different cultures enjoyed.
During World War II, food shortages led the Japanese government to ban “luxury foods”, ramen being among the banned. The U.S. feared these shortages might alienate the population and lead them into communism, so the import of American wheat into Japan began. As soon as wheat was available again, the demand for ramen soared, and food stands started popping up, selling the inexpensive food to the hungry people of Japan.
During and after this time, seeing hungry people struggling, hungry, and waiting for food, Japanese-Taiwanese businessman Momofuku Ando started working on a way to get the food out quickly to the masses. He wanted something that could be stored on the shelves for months, and prepared in the matter of minutes. Alas, the ramen noodle known by college students all over was created. In 1958, the first instant ramen was introduced and by 1971, Ando created Cup Noodles.
The Results
**SPOILER ALERT!**
Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!
8th/7th Place (tie!): Beef
Amy - 2
Kris - 4
Matt - 5
Nate - 4
8th/7th Place (tie!): Soy Sauce
Amy - 3
Kris - 3
Matt - 4
Nate - 5
“It doesn’t taste like soy or sauce.” - Matt
6th Place: Chicken
Amy - 3
Kris - 4
Matt - 6
Nate - 6
5th Place: Lime Chili Shrimp
Amy - 4
Kris - 5
Matt - 4
Nate - 7
4th Place: Shrimp
Amy - 4
Kris - 5
Matt - 7
Nate - 7
3rd Place: Roast Chicken
Amy - 6
Kris - 7
Matt - 6
Nate - 8
1st/2nd Place (tie!): Pork
Amy - 8
Kris - 9
Matt - 7
Nate - 8
1st/2nd Place (tie): Creamy Chicken
Amy - 7
Kris - 8
Matt - 7
Nate -10
There you have it. Pork and Creamy Chicken receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.
Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite ramen? We would love to hear your rating!
Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.
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Show Notes:
https://www.tokyoramentours.com/post/instant-ramen-history
https://ramenmuseum.nyc/history-of-ramen/
Episode 122: Ramen