Guess What The Russians Are Eating?

Thought that Asians were the only ones who eat instant noodles but have just learnt that it has become “Russia’s second bread”. ( This came from an article in 2001). Hard times and convenience have contributed to its increasing popularity in Russia over the past decade.

Many pooh-pooh its lack of nutritional value, and regard it as the poor man’s food, giving it a derogatory label, Bomi-paket, Russian slang which literally translates into “a tramp’s bundle”. However, many office workers, hikers find it a handy meal. Apparently, 20 packets of noodles is equivalent to one Big Mac in Russia.

Vladimir Kitov, whose article appeared in The Russia Journal, cited these other statistics:

“According to data from the GfK MR market-survey agency, sales of the noodle packages, which cost from 2 to 18 rubles, remained the fastest-growing segment of the Russian food market last year, totaling 1.7 billion rubles ($60 million). Overall sales of tomato ketchup, by contrast, came to just 40.1 million rubles ($1.3 million) for the same period.”

Doshirak is the Korean-based company with an enviable 20-percent market share in Russia. It even now sells instant noodles flavoured with black caviar. Check out the video clip by KBS World Radio here. ( Just click on the orange icon on the right).

sources:
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Cu_detail.htm?No=71810&id=Cu
http://www.russiajournal.com/node/5483
http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Instant-noodles
http://popsop.ru/wp-content/uploads/doshirak2.jpg
http://popsop.com/5648