TOKYO : Many Japanese turn to vending machines for drinks to quench their thirst, but during this unusually long and warm summer, noodle fans have found a new way to beat the heat.

With 5.5 million vending machines around Japan, there's at least one at every corner.

The machines are so much a part of Japanese life that they generate some US$58 million in sales each year, selling everything from flowers to underwear.

Among this year's more unusual offerings is a vending machine that sells all kinds of food, including ramen. It has ramen miso taste, ramen in shoyu flavor and cold ramen which has proved to be a big hit in Japan this summer.

Making its debut in April, hot ramen comes in two flavours, costing US$2.50 a serve.

The cold version is slightly pricier at US$3 and was introduced in June.

The company behind these noodles had initially expected to reap US$8.5 million in sales this year.

"Sales in the first phase exceeded our predictions, so we have raised our first year forecast to 2.5 billion yen (US$21.9 million)," said Yoshihiro Morikawa, Total Food Logistics Department, xFujitaka.

And the verdict from consumers?

"It (ramen) is chewy and the texture makes it delicious," said one Japanese man.

But not everyone is impressed.

"As a ramen fan, I would like to request for more improvement," said a second Japanese man.

"Well, it's Devil's tongue starch noodle, not the regular ramen noodle. So our next step is to come as close to what it should be," said Morikawa.

The noodles get their unusual name from the "Devil's tongue plant" - a type of yam used to make the popular konnyaku jelly.

The yam starch noodles don't turn soggy when added to soup, unlike regular wheat-based ramen. Their three-year shelf life also makes them ideal for distribution during emergencies.

Such canned ramen were in fact sent to the quake-hit city of Wajima in March, even before they hit the market.

Since consumers can't seem to get enough of such canned convenience, more varieties are in the works.

The latest product offering from the company is udon or thick noodles.

The company also hopes to release different kinds of noodles in the coming year.
Ramen noodles sold on vending machines a hit in Japan

TOKYO : Many Japanese turn to vending machines for drinks to quench their thirst, but during this unusually long and warm summer, noodle fans have found a new way to beat the heat.

With 5.5 million vending machines around Japan, there's at least one at every corner.

The machines are so much a part of Japanese life that they generate some US$58 million in sales each year, selling everything from flowers to underwear.

Among this year's more unusual offerings is a vending machine that sells all kinds of food, including ramen. It has ramen miso taste, ramen in shoyu flavor and cold ramen which has proved to be a big hit in Japan this summer.

Making its debut in April, hot ramen comes in two flavours, costing US$2.50 a serve.

The cold version is slightly pricier at US$3 and was introduced in June.

The company behind these noodles had initially expected to reap US$8.5 million in sales this year.

"Sales in the first phase exceeded our predictions, so we have raised our first year forecast to 2.5 billion yen (US$21.9 million)," said Yoshihiro Morikawa, Total Food Logistics Department, xFujitaka.

And the verdict from consumers?

"It (ramen) is chewy and the texture makes it delicious," said one Japanese man.

But not everyone is impressed.

"As a ramen fan, I would like to request for more improvement," said a second Japanese man.

"Well, it's Devil's tongue starch noodle, not the regular ramen noodle. So our next step is to come as close to what it should be," said Morikawa.

The noodles get their unusual name from the "Devil's tongue plant" - a type of yam used to make the popular konnyaku jelly.

The yam starch noodles don't turn soggy when added to soup, unlike regular wheat-based ramen. Their three-year shelf life also makes them ideal for distribution during emergencies.

Such canned ramen were in fact sent to the quake-hit city of Wajima in March, even before they hit the market.

Since consumers can't seem to get enough of such canned convenience, more varieties are in the works.

The latest product offering from the company is udon or thick noodles.

The company also hopes to release different kinds of noodles in the coming year. - CNA /ls