Instant Noodles: A Staple of Daily Life in Taiwan As a Taiwanese person, instant noodles have always been part of our life. In almost every Taiwanese home—including mine—you’ll find instant noodles stored in a cabinet, just in case. We eat them when we’re busy, when it rains, late at night, or simply when we crave something familiar and comforting. Some instant noodles have been popular for many decades, and I’ve been eating the same brands since I was a child. For example, Uni-President Minced Pork Noodles, Lai Yi Ke Seafood Cup Noodles, and Man Han Feast Braised Beef Noodles are what we call “national classics.” When I taste them, I don’t just taste noodles—I taste memories. Many of us in Taiwan are also very loyal to these flavors. Even though new products keep coming out every year, these old favorites never disappear from supermarket shelves. That says a lot about how deeply instant noodles are rooted in Taiwanese daily life. We Don’t Just Eat Instant Noodles—We Upgrade Them Actually, I rarely eat instant noodles exactly as the package suggests—I like to make them even better. At home, I often add eggs, leafy vegetables, or whatever ingredients I have in the fridge. Some young people even try adding cheese, milk, or soy milk for a creamier soup. I’ve also heard of people adding century egg, which may sound unusual to me, but it definitely sparks lively conversations among peers. On social media, people constantly share creative ways to eat instant noodles. Some cool ideas I’ve seen include:
Nowadays, instant noodles are not just fast food. They have become a way to get creative, share ideas, and savor the small moments in life.
Yes, We Even Use Instant Noodles as Temple Offerings This part often surprises my foreign friends the most… In Taiwan, food is commonly used as an offering when we pray at temples. In temple, instant noodles have become a special offering—especially when people pray for money or good luck. There is a famous temple in Nantou called Shilong Temple, which many people nickname the “Instant Noodle Land God Temple.” When people visit, they bring instant noodles as offerings to the Land God (土地公tǔ dì gōng). After praying, they can even cook and eat the noodles there. The temple has shelves full of instant noodles and provides hot water on site. Seeing people pray, chat, and eat instant noodles together in a temple might look unusual, but to us, it feels natural. It shows how closely instant noodles are connected to our daily life, beliefs, and community. Useful Mandarin VocabularyHere are some useful phrases related to instant noodles:
Instant noodles in Taiwan are more than just convenient food. They represent comfort, creativity, memories, and even faith. Try them for yourself, and see what memories come to mind in the future when you think of the taste of instant noodles in Taiwan. |
