Nongshim’s Black Series of instant noodles continues to get upgrades to its already mind-blowing deliciousness, this time with dubu (tofu) and kimchi. I can’t tell you how excited I am about the latest enhancement. Shin Ramyeon Black was once my “go-to” cup of noodles, only to be replaced by these. That’s how great they are! Not only do these noodles have a rich, satisfyingly salty flavor with a dash of spice, but they also have massive pieces of kimchi and dubu to fill your belly with. If you’re seriously hungry and looking for a quick, hearty meal, I seriously can’t recommend these noodles enough. I’m happy I found my new favorite. I hope these can become yours too!
Flavor:
Quite possibly one of the most satisfying cups of noodles I have ever tasted, Nongshim Shin Ramyeon Black Dubu Kimchi is salty, savory, and ever so spicy. The soup is tasty with its red pepper spiciness and rich, salty flavor. Best of all, the Shin Ramyeon Black Series has generous amounts of flakes, even when compared to virtually any cup of instant ramen released to date. There aren’t just flakes in this cup of noodles, there are large pieces of kimchi and blocks of dubu (tofu) packed into this tiny package.
Spiciness:
If you’re familiar with either Shin Ramyeon or Shin Ramyeon Black, these noodles have the same level of spiciness. These noodles have a bit of a red and black pepper spiciness to them, that’s mild when compared to Buldalk and other spicy instant noodles. It’s a classic level if spiciness that doesn’t taste artificial or coat your mouth with an oily film of spice. It’s a perfect level of spiciness that most people can enjoy comfortably without spending the next twenty-four hours in the john.
Smell:
This variant of Shin Ramyeon Black smells delicious. The best part is that I can smell each and every ingredient without one single ingredient overpowering the others. In each whiff, I can smell: the ramen noodles, kimchi, dubu (tofu), and the rich spicy and salty soup. If I could give an award to the cup of noodles with the most balanced aroma, I would give it to these instant noodles. The thing that surprised me the most was that I could actually pick up a tiny block of dubu and catch the familiar smell of freshly made dubu . Honestly, all of the ingredients take center stage and aren’t eclipsed by spiciness, which numerous cups of instant noodles fall victim to this ramen generation.
Noodles:
The size and texture of these noodles are perfect. They might still be your typical ramen noodles, but they pair well with the savory flavors of the spicy soup. The instant noodles found in Shin Ramyeon Black Dubu Kimichi are thinner than normal with a soft, but firm texture. This is a moderate improvement over the basic ramen noodles.
Overall:
I can’t get enough of this ramen. Nongshim Shin Ramyeon Black Dubu Kimchi, like its older brothers, remains so simple and satisfying to eat. You can really count on these noodles for being a kitchen staple. The only difference between the original Shin Ramyeon and the Black Series of noodles is that the added ingredients just keep getting better. First, it was larger and more prominent flakes of kimchi combined with an upgraded, rich flavor in Shin Ramyeon Black. Now, we have these delicious noodles with both kimchi and dubu to enjoy. I can’t wait to see what ingredients Nongshim throws at us next!
So, do you prefer a milder level of spiciness and more saltiness like Shin Ramyeon? Would you add anything extra to this cup of noodles? Let me know in the comments!
If you’re interested in hearing more about instant ramen, check out my on-going series, Noodle Story: An Exploration of Korean Instant Noodles, here on Medium.
