Prior to the early 1970s, preparing a cup of soup was not exactly an instant affair. The quickest method available at that time was heating up canned soup (which most people did in a saucepan on the stovetop, as microwave ovens, while available, were not widely in use then). Additionally, for light eaters there was the dilemma of how to prepare an individual serving of soup without wasting the remainder in the can. The introduction of Lipton's Cup-A-Soup line of products in 1972 seemed to be the answer to both of these issues.
Cup-A-Soup's selling point was definitely the convenience factor...no pan to wash, no waste - just empty an envelope of dry mix into a mug or small bowl, add boiling water from a kettle, and voilà - hot soup! This was a perfect solution for those who wanted a quick, light meal or snack without all the mess and fuss.
Of the five varieties of Cup-A-Soup that were first introduced, the two I recall trying were the Chicken Noodle and the Beef Flavor Noodle. Both were good, although a bit on the salty side (but what soup isn't?). My favorite, though, was Ring Noodle, which became available a bit later on (and is still available today).
It's interesting to think that 40-plus years ago, something as ordinary as instant soup was a revolutionary concept. But that is part of the fun of looking at these vintage ads...everything old was new once!
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