MEMORIES:
crazyeightieschick remembers...For some reason,when I've had a bad day,a bowl of Cambell's Chicken Noodle Soup and a PB&J always makes me feel ... More »
Posted on 05/17/08
With its reputation as a homeopathic medicinal aid, Chicken Noodle Soup has become one of the most popular soups around the world, and for good reason. The history of chicken soup can be traced back over centuries, tying it to a long list of cultures spanning from East to West.
Traditional recipes all include chicken stock but vary from country to country. For example in Britain, it’s a simple mix of clear broth, chicken, vegetables and a little salt. Not too far away in Belgium, asking for chicken soup will likely get you a variety that uses fresh cream instead of water. In China, you’ll probably find bits of ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil and in Greece you’d expect a concoction that includes lemon and eggs. In Portugal and Brazil, chicken soup aficionados get their bowl with rice, and traditionally, Jewish chicken soup includes matzoh balls along with veggies, such as carrots and celery. However, chicken noodle soup as we think of it today most closely resembles the German variation, a hearty chicken stock with vegetables and noodles.
In the U.S., most chicken soup comes with noodles, hence the common name “Chicken Noodle Soup.” The term was likely coined during a 1930s Campbell’s Soup ad featured on the Amos & Andy radio program, when Amos slipped up and referred to Campbell’s Chicken with Noodles soup as “Chicken Noodle Soup.” As a result, the sales for the then semi-popular soup skyrocketed, and Campbell’s changed the name permanently. A star was born. Chicken Noodle Soup officially joined the Campbell’s Soup line up in 1934, along with Cream of Mushroom. Scores and scores of economically-minded families around the country snatched up cans of the good stuff, and today Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup remains steadily in the top three most popular Campbell’s soups along with its 1934 partner, Cream of Mushroom, and their 1897 classic, Tomato.
Each year, Campbell’s uses almost a million miles of noodles just to produce Chicken Noodle soup (enough noodles to trail the equator over forty times!) There are also a variety of Chicken Noodle-like soups that Campbell’s produces, such as Chicken with Stars, Chicken Alphabet soup, Double Noodle Soup (same as before but with twice the noodles,) Mega noodle soup, as well as chicken soups with a variety of themed noodles, from Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish to cartoon characters.
No matter which variation you prefer, chicken noodle soup has been there to accompany us like a cherished friend, delivering warmth, comfort, and maybe even some medicinal value. We hardly need reminding as to why it’s “Mm! Mm! Good!”
