MAMA instant noodles are so popular in Thailand they could be considered a national institution. They are the cheapest instant meal in Thailand. On their own they might be considered to be more of a snack, but in monetary terms they equated to a 6 baht meal when I published this article in 2014, and 12 years later, it’s still less than 7 baht.
MAMA noodles are not only the cheapest instant meal available in Thailand, they are fast, versatile, convenient, and sold everywhere from supermarkets to 7-Eleven stores.
Instant noodles were first introduced to Thailand fom Japan in 1971. Since then, dried noodles have become tremendously popular, with Thailand’s own dried noodle manufacturers outselling all imported brands. MAMA noodles, ( produced by Thai President Foods PCL ) are the most popular instant noodles in Thailand, currently having close to 50 percent share of the Thai dried noodle market.
Value for money: You can buy a MAMA Cup Noodle in Thailand for 12–15 baht, in the UK a similar meal, namely the Pot Noodle costs 1 pound. At the current exchange rate that means you could buy 3 cup noodles and 1 packet noodle in Thailand for the price of 1 Pot Noodle in the UK. And taste-wise, MAMA Cup Noodles beat the Pot Noodles hands down.
Cooking and Eating MAMA Noodles
MAMA Noodles are eaten on their own as a snack, or stir-fried with other ingredients to make a meal. The easiest way to eat them is to simply buy the cup noodles or empty the contents of a packet into a mug or bowl and pour boiling water over them, leave for 3 minutes and they’re ready to eat.
They also commonly added to stir-fried dishes and noodle soups (Kway Teow). Many street food vendors use them because of their convenience, versatility and ease of cooking. They are also often eaten uncooked, much the same way you would eat a bag of crisps.
If you find yourself eating MAMA as if they were a bag of crisps, maybe it’s a sign you’ve been in Thailand too long.
MAMA Noodle Flavors
- Minced Pork (The best-seller)
- Shrimp Tom Yum (Classic Silver Pack)
- Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum (Orange Pack)
- Pork (Original flavor)
- Pa-Lo Duck (Stewed Duck)
- Tom Saab (Spicy Isaan Pork)
- Moo Nam Tok (Grilled Pork Salad style)
- Yentafo Tom Yum Mohfai (Pink Spicy Soup)
- Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodle)
- Green Curry
- Oriental Kitchen Salted Egg
- Oriental Kitchen Hot Korean
- Oriental Kitchen Spicy Seafood
- Spicy Cheese
- Vegetarian Tofu & Shiitake
- Vegetarian Tom Yum
MAMA Noodle Portions
Packet noodles are commonly sold in 55, 60, and 90 gramme sizes. Cup noodles range from 42 to 70 grammes. The size of the portion often relates to the flavor, and there are limited flavors available in the small cup sizes.
Thailand’s Annual Consumption of MAMA Noodles
According to the World Instant Noodles Association, Thailand consumes 4,080,000,000 servings of instant noodles per year. With a population of approximately 70 million, that means on average, Thais eat approximately 58 packets of noodles per year, with close to 50 percent of those being MAMA noodles.
Are MAMA Noodles Good For You?
Dried foods are not considered to be healthy, the processing destroys most nutrients. Thai President Foods claim some nutrients and vitamins are added back, and that no preservatives or Tran-fats are added, but they do contain MSG in amounts which they claim are acceptable.
I’m no nutritional expert, I like MAMA noodles myself and often eat them as a snack, but you must also maintain a balanced diet. There is a saying “man can’t live on bread alone,” and likewise, you can’t live on MAMA alone.