Wai-Wai (food)
Encyclopedia
Wai Wai is a brand of instant noodles
produced by Chaudhary Group under CG FOODS (Nepal) Pvt. Ltd in Nepal
and India
.
is currently the company's Managing Director and overseeing its rapid expansion plan.
(mixed spices) and onion oil which can be used to prepare the soup. Wai Wais are rich in carbohydrates, minerals and proteins. Chicken
and vegetarian flavored Wai Wai are the most popular flavours.
Wai Wai produced in Nepal used to be exported to India. The rising popularity of Wai Wai in India led CG Foods to open factories in India. Wai Wai has gained popularity in about thirty countries around Asia and Europe, with most foreign tourists taking a liking to it and importing it into their respective countries.
in it, although it is said to be present in less than 1%. A warning mentioned on the packet clearly forbids infants below 1 year age to eat Wai Wai (in extremely small print, behind the flap). Being very popular among kids in Nepal, its a major health concern. A case of bone malfunction of a 12 year old child due to heavy consumption of Wai Wai was once reported in the national channel, NTV, of Nepal.
Instant noodles
Instant noodles are dried or precooked noodles and are often sold with packets of flavoring including seasoning oil. Dried noodles are usually eaten after being cooked or soaked in boiling water for 2 to 5 minutes, while precooked noodles can be reheated or eaten straight from the packet...
produced by Chaudhary Group under CG FOODS (Nepal) Pvt. Ltd in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
History
Wai Wai was launched in Nepal initially with the collaboration of Thai Foods Industries, and has led to establishment of a huge market for instant noodles in Nepal. After about 2 decades, there are over 20 different brands of instant noodles in Nepal, providing various seasoning, flavors and diets. Nirvana ChaudharyNirvana Chaudhary
Nirvana Kumar Chaudhary is a Nepali businessman. He is the eldest son of Binod Chaudhary, president of Nepal's Chaudhary Group , and grandson of founder and chairman of the group, Bhuramal Chaudhary. Nirvana is currently the managing director for multiple business units within CG.-References:...
is currently the company's Managing Director and overseeing its rapid expansion plan.
Serving Styles
Wai Wai can be eaten straight from the package or cooked in soup form. Unlike ordinary noodles, wai wai is pre-cooked, flavoured, seasoned and fried before packaging. It comes in various seasoning flavours. A pack of Wai Wai includes chili powder, masalaMasala
Masala or massala is a term used in South Asian cuisines to mostly describe a mixture of spices. A masala can either be a combination of dried spices, or a paste made from a mixture of spices and other ingredients—often garlic, ginger, onions and chilli paste...
(mixed spices) and onion oil which can be used to prepare the soup. Wai Wais are rich in carbohydrates, minerals and proteins. Chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
and vegetarian flavored Wai Wai are the most popular flavours.
Flavors
Maruchan offers three distinct products with a wide variety of popular flavors in cup and 'quick' variants.- ChickenChickenThe chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
- Vegetarian
- SpinachSpinachSpinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant , which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions...
- Schezwan
- Manchurian
Popularity
Wai Wai is perhaps the most common brand of dry foods in Nepal. Instant noodles consist of a major part of the dry foods sold in Nepal and are available in any part of the country.Wai Wai produced in Nepal used to be exported to India. The rising popularity of Wai Wai in India led CG Foods to open factories in India. Wai Wai has gained popularity in about thirty countries around Asia and Europe, with most foreign tourists taking a liking to it and importing it into their respective countries.
Health concern and criticism
Wai Wai is often criticised for the presence of Monosodium glutamateMonosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate or MSG, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids....
in it, although it is said to be present in less than 1%. A warning mentioned on the packet clearly forbids infants below 1 year age to eat Wai Wai (in extremely small print, behind the flap). Being very popular among kids in Nepal, its a major health concern. A case of bone malfunction of a 12 year old child due to heavy consumption of Wai Wai was once reported in the national channel, NTV, of Nepal.
Ingredients
Ingredients used to prepare vegetarian Wai Wai:- Wheat flour
- Vegetable oil
- SaltSaltIn chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
- Chilli
- OnionOnionThe onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
- GarlicGarlicAllium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
- Soya sauce
- SpiceSpiceA spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...
s - Hydrolysed vegetable protein
- Edible gum
- Black Pepper
- Monosodium glutamateMonosodium glutamateMonosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate or MSG, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids....
(1%)
Advertising
Wai Wai Vividta ma ekta was a multi-lingual, TV Commercial communicating that whatever be the caste, creed, language or geography all Nepalis enjoy Wai Wai.Wai Wai Quick
Wai Wai has also recently released a new version subtitled "quick", which is available in many different flavours. Despite the name, its not really any quicker.See also
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- Indomie Nigeria
- Koka noodlesKoka noodlesKoka Noodles are a brand of instant noodles, manufactured by Tat Hui Foods. The noodles are available in a variety of Asian flavors, as packets or cup noodles. Manufacturing and packaging is done at Tat Hui's factory in Jurong, Singapore. They are sold islandwide in Singapore, and also exported to...
- Maggi noodlesMaggi noodlesMaggi noodles is a brand of instant noodles manufactured by Nestlé. The brand is popular in Australia, India, South Africa, Brazil, Nepal, New Zealand, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Fiji and the Philippines. In several countries, it is also known as "maggi mee"...
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- Pot NoodlePot NoodlePot Noodle is a brand of ramen-style instant noodle snack foods, available in a selection of flavours and varieties. Its dehydrated mixture consists of wide noodles, textured soya pieces, assorted dried vegetables and flavouring powder. The product is prepared by adding boiling water, which softens...
- Sapporo IchibanSapporo Ichibanis a brand of instant noodles made by Sanyo Foods, and rivals to other Japanese ramen brands like Nissin and Maruchan.Sapporo Ichiban has found a market outside of Japan, most notably with consumers in Hong Kong, The United States, Mexico and Canada.Sapporo Ichiban literally means, "Sapporo's...
- Shin Cup
- Shin ramyunShin ramyunShin Ramyun is a spicy brand of Korean instant noodles produced by Nong Shim Ltd. since 1986. It is exported to over 80 different countries, and is the highest selling brand of noodles in Korea.-Packaging:...
- Super NoodlesSuper NoodlesSuper Noodles are a dehydrated instant noodle snack, made by Batchelors in the UK and sold under the McDonnells brand in the Republic of Ireland. They are prepared by being placed in a saucepan of boiling water, adding the sachet of flavouring, and stirring...