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Instant noodle makers are among the few made happy by the arrival of the rainy season, because consumers enjoy eating warm ramen soup in wet weather. Along with the climate, convenience plays a role in ramen's popularity during the rainy months.
On rainy days, shoppers are less likely to go to mega-stores and markets, preferring instead to head to nearby neighborhood shops. Because they're buying only a small number of items, mothers usually choose to make dishes that are simple and easy to cook, such as instant food like ramen. But there are more scientific causes behind the relationship between ramen and the rainy season. They are atmospheric pressure and humidity.
Prof. Lee Jong-ho of the department of food and nutrition at Yonsei University said, "People are reluctant to eat dishes with fish or meat because fishy smells get worse with the high humidity of the rainy season. And as the atmospheric pressure lowers, people are likely to be gloomy and this makes them want hot, warm soup like ramen. That will boost sales of ramen."
An official with ramen maker Ottogi confirmed that sales of ramen in the rainy season are usually about 10 percent higher than in the cold winter season.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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