Nissin Demae Ramen Five Spices Artificial Beef Flavor

Made By:  Nissin Foods (Hong Kong)
Required to prepare:  Saucepan & Range, 500cc water
460 calories per package

(Available online through Amazon.com)

One thing about making the transition from unemployed to self-employed is that there are more demands on time--just because there is a lot of work to do for the business doesn't mean there's suddenly less housework to make up for it.  So where does the Ramen Butterfly turn when she wants a quick and easy lunch?  Instant noodles to the rescue!

Today's rescuer is this Five Spices Artificial Beef Flavor ramen from Nissin of Hong Kong.  For those unfamiliar, the five spices in Chinese five-spice can actually vary a little, but the main flavor note is always a cinnamon-clove-anise blend of some sort.  (It's actually not that far removed from an American pumpkin-pie spice blend.)  It's an interesting flavor, but one that can be overpowering if used irresponsibly, so we'll see how it translates into a ramen flavor.

Inside the package we find a very typical block of ramen, and two seasoning packets--a soup base, and a small amount of seasoning oil (which has kind of a french-onion thing going on).  We boil our 500cc [2-1/4 cups] of water, add the noodles and cook for three minutes, then add the flavorings and serve!

The noodles have a nicer texture than I had remembered Nissin Demae noodles being; they actually have a very pleasant mouthfeel.  The broth is a very nice balance between a beef broth and the five spice flavor; the five-spice is definitely noticeable but it isn't too strong.  Being a Nissin Demae product, there are of course no vegetables or faux-meat bits to review, but those can be a distraction as easily as they can be a feature anyway. I would have to say that out of the three Nissin Demae products I've reviewed so far, this one is probably my favorite!  I certainly wouldn't mind having this one again. :)

Nissin Demae Ramen Satay Flavor

Made By:  Nissin Foods Co., Ltd. (Hong Kong)
Tools Required:  Saucepan & Range, Bowl & Utensils
480 calories per package

Available online through Amazon.com

Sometimes I think I must be more adventurous when I am shopping than I am when I am deciding what to eat.  I picked up this Satay flavor noodle when I was at Uwajimaya a couple of months ago, and I've been avoiding it in the pantry ever since.  It's probably because my first experience with a satay flavor noodle was less than stellar, but it does make me wonder why I bought it in the first place if I wasn't going to eat it.  But today I am feeling adventurous, so eat it I shall!

I was actually a little bit surprised to find two flavor packets included--all the other Nissin products of this style I've seen only had one.  The first is the expected "soup base" packet, and the other is labelled "seasoning sauce" and seems to have some sort of liquid inside.  We boil 500ml (or 2-1/4 cups) of water in our saucepan, add the noodles and cook for three minutes, then add the packets last.  The Seasoning Sauce packet ended up having a grainy brown paste in it, which resisted coming out of the packet; I ended up just tossing the packet in the soup and swishing it around with my chopsticks to get the stuff out.  Anyway, after transferring the soup to a bowl, lunch is ready!

I didn't have to be so worried about trying these; the broth is much less one-dimensional than I remembered from the Mi Goreng Satay.  There is still a strong nutty flavor, but it is much less sweet, and it balances with an undertone that is along the lines of five-spice beef.  While not spicy in terms of chili heat, there is a lot of interesting spice flavors present.  The noodles themselves don't really excite me, but at least they aren't as mushy as the US style.  I am very pleasantly surprised!  I definitely wouldn't mind having these again, and I might not even wait quite so long to eat them next time. :)

Nissin Demae Ramen Curry Flavor

Made By:  Nissin (Hong Kong)
Tools Required:  Saucepan and Range, Bowl, Spoon & Chopsticks
Meal Size (450 calories per package)
Rating:  :D

(available online through Amazon.com)

Happy (U.S.) Presidents Day!  This is the day when we Americans pause to remember the long-past days when we actually had a likeable, effective President or two.  To mark the occasion, I probably should have chosen a patriotic, Made-in-the-USA domestic product, but instead I'm taking advantage of the day off to take care of some unfinished noodle business.  A while back, I did a pair of reviews of curry-flavored noodles, and this one got left out, so we are finishing the curry trilogy today!

Inside the packet, we find a very typical-looking brick of noodles, and a single yellow foil packet labelled "Soup Base".  The instructions say to boil 2-1/4 cups (500ml) of water, cook the noodles for three minutes, and then add the soup base right before serving--fairly straightforward stovetop directions that everyone should be familiar with.  After a quick stir, lunch is served!

As near as I can tell, Nissin Demae is the Hong Kong division's analogue to the domestic "Top Ramen" brand.  The noodles are about the same texture, which means they are a bit soft by imported-noodle standards.  They also share the trait of having broth that is completely unadorned by veggie bits or visible seasoning flecks.  The aroma is basically just straight curry powder, but the flavor is very reminiscent of a Japanese-style curry (like you might make with S&B's Golden Curry Mix).  In addition to the curry seasoning, there is a nice savory chicken flavor in there as well.  There doesn't seem to be any chili heat in this at all, it is strictly a savory, mild flavor.

I am actually quite pleasantly surprised; after the first two curry reviews I think I was expecting another rendition of Thai-style curry, and this turned out to be something altogether different--Japanese curry has practically nothing in common with Thai curry except the name. So while the quality of the noodles are probably on par with normal domestic ramen, the flavor was quite nice and seems fairly unique.  I'm looking forward to having this one again sometime! :D