JapanInstant noodles
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Pre-cooked, flash-fried noodles that are ready with hot water. Momofuku Ando launched them as Chicken Ramen on 25 August 1958, in Ikeda, near Osaka.
From Japan, by Momofuku Ando.
Gifts to the world
What every country gave the world
Inventions, dishes, games and ideas we use every day, and where they came from. 23 stories from 3 countries so far.
Play Who Gave Us That?A photo of something we all know: guess which country it came from.Japan
MexicoMaize (corn)
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Indigenous farmers in southern Mexico, most likely in the Balsas River valley, bred maize from a wild grass called teosinte about 9,000 years ago. It then spread across the Americas and later the whole world.
From Mexico.
MexicoVanilla
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The pods of a tropical orchid. The Totonac people of the Veracruz coast were among the first to grow it, and the Aztecs used it to flavour their chocolate drink. Mexico was the main producer until the mid-1800s.
From Mexico.
MexicoTequila
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A spirit distilled from the heart of the blue agave plant, named after the town of Tequila in Jalisco. By law it can only be made in a protected area of Mexico.
From Mexico.
More ways to explore
- Festivals month by monthWhat people celebrate this month around the world, and how.
- The sounds of the worldTraditional instruments and dances, with recordings to play.
- Gifts to the worldInventions, dishes and ideas, and where they came from.
- Word search and crosswordsLarge-print puzzles about every country, to play or print.
- Trivia and quiz nightsQuestions with answers, and a new quiz night pack every week.
- Flags to colourPrint an outline or colour it in on the screen.
- Your family rootsHistory, family recipes and words for the grandchildren.
- Before your cruisePhrases, food and sights for every country on the route.
- Puzzle archiveMissed a day? Every daily puzzle is still there.