Why
Instant Noodles
are So Popular In India

5 min read

Posted on 14/05/2024

Article

Street Food

Instant Noodles

Quick Summary

Instant noodles have been quite popular in the urban and suburban regions of India for many decades. Maggi Instant Noodles was first introduced in 1983 by Nestle and its two-minute advertisement was an instant hit among the masses. Its dominance was unrivalled in the market for a long time. However, in the last few years, brands like Ching's, Knorr, Sunfeast Yippee Noodles, and others have tantalised the taste buds of consumers. Instant noodles are popular because they allow you to prepare a lip-smacking snack for a meal in a matter of a few minutes.

Deep Dive

With the introduction of the 2-minute Maggi Instant Noodles in the 1980s, the culinary scene in India transformed. Its fast preparation time and scrumptious taste ensured that it quickly became everyone’s go-to meal option. Students, professionals, families, and even elderly people fell head over heels for its taste and convenience. The concept of a 2-minute meal, where one just boils the noodles, mixes in the flavour packet, and et voila — a lip-smacking meal is ready. This is how it began, earning a special place in our hearts (and tummies!). Have you ever wondered why instant noodles have found a permanent place on our dining tables? Below, we will explain the reasons for the immense popularity of instant noodles in India!

Why do Indians love instant noodles?

The following reasons are behind the rise of instant noodles in the Indian market:

1. Easy-to-Make

Not everyone is a chef or a cook. Bachelors, single working men and women, and even children are forced to rush with their meals due to work and study commitments. Instant noodles become the first choice for such individuals because making them is easier than making a meal.

Just pour a couple of cups of hot water into your saucepan and unzip the noodle packet! Now, add the special spice mix when the noodles just start to cook. Your instant noodles will be ready within two minutes!

2. Travel-Friendly Snack

Street vendors, eateries, and even restaurants like to add them to their menus due to their immense popularity. Similarly, camping enthusiasts, hikers, bikers, and other communities fulfil their hunger pangs over a bowl of hot ramen or spicy noodles!

Students prefer taking a pack of their favourite noodles on a picnic. Instant noodles are also popular among corporate offices as they are delicious and are ready in minutes.

3. Brands Catering to the Audience’s Requirements

As more food brands realised the growing demand for instant noodles, they started coming up with new flavours. Their accurate marketing strategies for promoting different types of Chinese, Korean, and other Asian noodle recipes have contributed to the increase in noodle consumption in India.

As love for instant noodles spread like wildfire, local Asian brands decided to step up to the plate and cater to the diverse taste buds that our country is known for. Small eateries usually managed by businessmen from Nepal or North East Indian states came with their instant noodle recipes.

Even the local eatery owners created a fusion of noodles with eggs, bread, and a number of other items.

4. Influence of Asian Cultures

India is a diverse land with multiple cuisines and recipes that can be a hit in any part of the world. However, a huge chunk of the Indian population, especially millennials, are also influenced by other cultures.

For instance, K-pop culture has recently become immensely popular among the youth. Apart from adapting their music and dressing sense, teenagers also follow their eating habits. So, they are interested in trying out instant noodle recipes that come from these parts of the world.

Social media is another place where foreign cuisines and food cultures are shared endlessly. So, their influence on the minds of the younger generation has also increased their affinity towards noodles and related recipes.

The noodle brands and elite restaurants in the metropolitan cities understand this and launch their unique noodle recipes to grab the youth’s attention.

Take Away

From the legendary instant Maggi noodles and its diverse renditions to the spicy reign of Korean instant noodles, tracing this journey surely got our stomachs rumbling. So, the next time you reach for a hot and steamy bowl of instant noodles, remind yourself of the incredible voyage that brought them to your plate.

Don’t forget to tell us which instant noodle brand you reach out to when you’re having a craving. Happy slurping!

blurb

The instant noodles market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 15% in the next five years, with major brands like ITC, Nestle, Hindustan Unilever, and Sunfeast in India.

Instant noodles usually consist of pre-cooked or dried blocks of noodles that are flavoured with spices and seasoning oils.

The northern part of India was the first to the noodle — in the form on sevai — which reached there via trades conducted through the silk route.