We all love noodles and why not, they are so tasty and so versatile! Although a lot of negative publicity is done around them, they are still around and are savored as a staple in several countries.

The origin of noodles dates back to 4000 years ago in China. At present, noodles are available in more than 30 varieties in different parts of the world.

You will be surprised to know that the humble bowl of noodles is full of nutrients and has now reached even space, all thanks to technology.

It was only after World War II, noodles became an integral part of Chinese food history.

This 4000-year-old food item has some really interesting and shocking facts associated with it that no one can ever imagine.

Let us explore such 16 interesting facts about noodles that’ll probably shock you.

1. Value of noodles
In many cultures and regions, noodles are not just a food. For Chinese, they are a symbol of long life. They are prepared as a customary dish on occasions like Chinese New Year and birthday gatherings. For some, noodles are an alternative to the birthday cake too.

2. Wide variety
Made with rice, semolina, refined flour or wheat flour, this easy-to-make food item has more than 30 varieties and is found in different parts of the world. In Asia itself, one can find approx 15 varieties of noodles. One can even pick noodles in round, flat, thin, or thick texture.

3. The first Chinese noodle
The first noodles were made 4000 years ago with millet grass grain.

4. Noodles custom
There are several customs related to eating noodles. You will be surprised to know that in Japan, slurping loudly while eating your noodles is not considered a bad manner; rather it signifies appreciation of the meal. It reflects that the food is delicious.

5. Noodles in space
In 2005, instant noodles made it into the space with Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi. It was the Nissin Food that invented zero-gravity instant noodles. They developed a special ball-shaped version of the usually dangling noodle that space-travellers can easily eat in space.

6. Originated as a luxury item
Yes, you read it right! When invented, noodles were somewhat of a luxury item. In that period, one packet of noodles was about ten times the price of present-day ones.

7. Noodles are actually fried
Have you ever thought what makes the noodles so crispy? Well, the deep-frying process makes them so, which also adds to the fat content however it decreases the total liquid content by 2 per cent.

8. Noodles museum
If you are a noodles fan, you will be glad to know that there is a noodles museum in Osaka, Japan. According to reports, the museum archives almost 4560 varieties of noodles and even the process of making.

9. Why so important in Japan
Noodles became an important food in Japan during World War II. The country experienced the shortage of food in those days and the only food item easily available was dried noodles that later gained the status of the staple food of the country.

10. Rich in nutrients
We agree that noodles fall into the category of fast food, but are not bad if consumed in a controlled manner. Considered as a rich source of energy, they are high in vitamins and minerals such as iron, riboflavin, niacin, and thiamin.

11. The art of making
Noodles are made with the help of machine cutting or hand pulling. The process is followed by drying and deep frying them, which increases their shelf life.

12. Instant noodles
Invented in Japan by Momofuku Ando, this version of noodles was introduced in the year 1958. This variety of noodle has a longer shelf life and had been modified with time to fulfill the market demand.

13. It’s not vegetarian essentially
If you are vegetarian and love noodles then you are going to hate us for revealing this information! Noodles are not essentially a vegetarian item. In general, the majority of noodles use eggs or animal oils as a preservative. So, it is suggested to read the packet carefully before buying!

14. Dangerous for pregnant women
Here we are talking about the instant cuppa noodles. Use of chemicals in packaging and artificial flavours in the making of noodles make them unfit for expecting women, as they can be detrimental to the growth and general health of the fetus and can even lead to miscarriage.

15. Uses storage cups made of harmful chemicals
All the ready-to-eat noodle cups use a chemical called Dioxin. And when you add warm water to them, the chemical leaks from the inner layer of the cup and mixes with the noodles. In short, you eat adulterated noodles that are not good for digestive tracts!

16. Harmful for growing children
Salt is used as a preservative to increase the shelf life of noodles. Excessive intake of sodium (found in salt) may damage the organs like heart, liver, and kidney of growing children. They also use wax to add smooth texture that is considered bad for the human brain.