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The collection of four Google Doodles pays respects to Momofuku Ando, a Taiwanese-Japanese entrepreneur who is known as one of the creators of instant noodles and Cup Noodles, both part of the “Budget Eating Hall of Fame.” He would be 104-years old today but he passed away in 2007 aged 96.
Ando, who established Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd, was dead set to help end famine in Japan. In 1957, he found that by flash-frying ramen noodles in tempura oil, they would cook right away when put in boiled water.
He retailed the first bundle of precooked instant noodles in 1958. Cup Noodles were later launched in 1971, after instant noodles were already famous both in Japan and abroad.
Even later on, when Ando was in his 90s, he developed Nissin’s “Space Ram” Soup, instant noodles to be consumed in space. Today’s set of Google Doodles shows animated pictures of Ando, researching and consuming noodles. One even depicts him drifting in space with the “Space Ram” in one hand and a fork in the other.
View the exhibition above for the four doodles respecting Ando, and in addition other Google Doodles as the years progressed.
Google wrote about the Doodle collection:
“Taiwanese-Japanese inventor Momofuku Ando introduced to the world instant ramen, a dish that not only revolutionized food but also serves as a testament to what hard work and perseverance can achieve.”
Nonetheless, the road was not simple for the owner of Nissin Food Products. Ando was challenged by the need to discover the right balance and make noodles that were edible and tasty but did not ended up mush when in hot water. The solution, given by his wife, was to shower the noodles with chicken soup and afterward broil them in tempura oil. .
Ando was conceived while the Japanese controlled Taiwan in 1910, moved to Japan when he was 23 years old and became a Japanese citizen after World War II. He passed away in Osaka on Jan. 5, 2007.
Image Source: Google Doodle
