I got a couple packages today. They came from a company in Korea called emart  (이마트) – they sell everything you could imagine, and have their own brand of instant noodles!

They sent eight six pack bags of noodles!

Whoa – these look spicy! They’re called Dare You Habanero Ramen!

They also sent this large flat package containing…

…a couple of posters! Hey thank you! I’ll be reviewing these probably tomorrow – man I bet they’re spicy! That guy on the package looks to be burning up! Thanks go to Stan from emart! Here‘s emart’s website,.

The post New Product Samples From Korea’s emart! appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

Just a note – there’s a new number one on the Top Ten Spiciest Noodles Of All Time List! It’s South Korea’s emart with Dare You! Habanero Ramen!!! Man, it sure was hot! Go have a look here!

The post Update To The Top Ten Spiciest Noodles Of All Time List appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

Well this one looks to be extremely spicy. Samyang Foods sent some instructions along as everything on the back of these packages are in Korean. Well, they also added a little advice:

If it is too spicy for you to finish, you’d better add a soft-fried egg, vegetables or some chicken My fingers are crossed for you!

Wow – I think I’ve got my work cut out for me on this one! Spicy chicken stir noodles… Let’s do it!

The back of the package (click to enlarge). Notice the little grumpy chicken talking about SHU. SHU are Scoville Heat Units, a way to rate the degree of spiciness. The scornful fowl is warning us about this being 4,404 SHU. I’ve found a variety in the past that has 5,930 SHU – that was really hot! Curious how I’ll do with this one…

The noodle block.

The liquid packet.

Oh dude. It kind of looks like fire with smoke coming up from it, doesn’t it? Gave a taste with a toothpick – it’s tasty and then super hot! Being a stir noodle, this will be undiluted by water.

A black and white packet. Hot pepper flake, perhaps?

Looks like some seaweed and sesame seeds.

Finished (click image to enlarge). Added baked chicken seasoned with adobo and Cavender’s Greek seasoning, sweet onion, fried egg and green onions. As I always do in my reviews, I sampled the product before adding all my own garnishes. The noodles are thick and chewy. The flavoring is pretty good – extreme spiciness! Has a nice kind of fried chicken taste. The sesame and seaweed ass a nice little finish. If you don’t like spicy foods, stay away! If you do, this will satisfy! Eyes watering and nose running! 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 8801073110502.

A Samyang commercial.

The post Meet The Manufacturer: #1028: Samyang Foods Buldalk Bokkeummyeon (Hot Fried Chicken Ramyun) appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

Time for some extremely spicy noodles! This is another one from eMart, makers of Dare You Habanero Ramyun. Dare You weighs in at 5,930SHU (Scoville Heat Units) – the hottest I’ve had thus far. This one’s 3,960SHU – not as fiery hot, but definitely not to be trifled with! Jjampong is a seafood soup. You ready?

Here’s the back of the package (click image to enlarge). Contains seafood.

The noodle block.

The powder seasoning.

A speck of this was tasted – A nice flavor and a fiery heat that engulfed my whole mouth!

An oil packet – kind of looks like it’s full of fire!

Has a color not unlike habanero peppers.

The veggies and seafood.

A little smorgasbord.

Finished (click image to enlarge). Added odeng, kamaboko, narutomaki (all three are different kinds of fish cake), red, orange and yellow bell pepper and some onion. The noodles are very nice – thick and great consistency. The broth is spicy – like a fire in your mouth! If you took away the heat, you would find a nice and rich seafood flavor. I found that the two components compliment each other nicely in the broth. The pieces of vegetable and seafood are quite nice – they hydrated well. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 8801073110014.

I think this is one of the most ingenious marketing ideas of all time.

The post #1037: emart Dare You Habanero Jjamppong appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

This year, we’ve got some new fiery additions to this list of spicy and burning hot varieties. If you can find them, you’ll be feeling quite the burn! If you think you’ve found anything hotter or noteworthy of being on this list, please comment below or send me an email. Without further adieu, here’s the 2013 picks for the spiciest instant noodles I’ve found after 1,128 reviews!

#10: Indomie Mi Instan Mi Goreng Rasa Cabe Ijo – Indonesia

With a spicy green chilli bite, this brothless variety from Indonesia came onto the scene in 2012. It’s unique green color is fun to see and it’s flavor is top-notch. This is the only green chilli flavored instant I’ve seen to date. Original review here

#9: JML (Jinmailang) Artificial Spicy Hot Beef – China

JM also makes a Spicy Beef variety, but this one is Hot Spicy Beef. The title doesn’t lie; it’s vicious! Along with the fire is a nice hearty broth and excellent noodles. Original review here

#8: Namchow Mee Jang Sour Spicy Chicken – Thailand

I get a kick out of this one because if you don’t look closely, this looks like a happy little chicken flavor noodle bowl. Looks can be deceiving though! The broth is a fiery melding of citrus and chili pepper fire that will test your gumption. Original review here

#7: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle – Malaysia

This is Malaysia’s first time on any of my top ten lists. This is some really hot and fiery curry. It’s also one of the best curry instant noodles I’ve ever had. The noodles are a little thicker and the curry paste is ample. Original review here

#6: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja Flamin’ Hot & Nutty Noodle Soup – United States

A melange of intense heat, pork broth and a peanut powder packet with little black sesame seeds. This South Korean ramyun is absolutely amazing. First in South Korea exclusively, they now produce it here in the United States as well, so it’s pretty easy to come by. Original review here

#5: Indomie Curly Noodle With Chicken & Chilli Paddi – Indonesia

A nice chicken mi goreng with a surprise. The Bird’s Eye chilli that lurks within will change your day in a second. The thing could be anywhere in a bowl – but you will definitely know when you’ve bitten into it – intense, lingering heat will ensue and bring you to your knees. Original review here

#4: emart Dare You! Habanero Jjamppong – South Korea

Extreme heat is paired with nice bit of seafood broth and lots of bits of seafood. All the fire and flavor melded together with thick ramyun noodles make it hot as well as delicious. This one comes in at 1,960 SHU (Scoville Heat Units). Original review here

#3: Paldo Teumsae Ramyun – South Korea

Another South Korean ramyun with serious kick to it. This isn’t to be trifled with!  Teumsae has restaurants in South Korea which serve up some seriously spicy fare. I really like the text undernerath the word Teumsae which reads, ‘Flavor. Culture. Human’ Original review here

#2: Samyang Foods Buldalk Bokkeummyeon – South Korea

The English translation? Hot fried chicken flavor. This one is yet another brothless variety and it really packs a punch as well as has a nice taste to it. Thick ramyun noodles round everything out nicely and will transmit the spicy sauce to your tongue. Original review here

#1: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramyun – South Korea

At 5,930 SHU, this variety tops the list for a second year in a row. I think the only way to make something hotter would be to drop in some pure capsicum oleoresin! If you like the absolutely spiciest stuff, this is for you. If not, then you’re in for some serious pain. Endure the burn! Original review here

The post The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All time 2013 Edition appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

On my Top Ten Spicy list, the package version of this is #1. Hottest thing ever – hands down! Well, they also sent me the cup version – let’s see how spicy this sucker’s gonna be!

Here are the side panels (click image to enlarge). Can’t read Korean, but pretty sure there is a little beef in this one. To prepare, add soup base sachet and boiling water up to inner line. Cover and after 4 minutes, stir and enjoy.

Here’s the lid (click image to enlarge).

The noodle block.

The soup base sachet.

Oh yeah this stuff smells spicy.

Here are the veggies and meaty bits from the inside of the cup.

 Finished (click image to enlarge). Added sweet onion and sauteed beef. The noodles are pretty good for a cup. I found as the meal went on, they seemed to only get better; maybe an extra minute or two during the steeping could be a winner here. The broth is, well, HOT. If you don’t like spicy, run away, screaming and wetting yourself. I’m not kidding! The veggies are really nice in this one as well. Just ridiculously hot. 3.25 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 8801073210011.

Just watch him eat it – you know what’s going to happen!

The post #1236: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramyun appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

This was sent to me by Anders E. from South Korea – thank you very much! For some time new, eMart’s Dare You! Habanero Ramen has topped The Ramen Rater’s Spiciest Instant Noodle Of All Time lists. There’s a really good reason for this too – it’s violently hot. Heat is measure in SHU – Scoville Heat Units. Here’s what wikipedia has to say about the Scoville test:

The Scoville scale is the measurement of the pungency (spicy heat) of chili peppers or other spicy foods as reported in Scoville heat units (SHU),^[1] a function of capsaicin concentration. The scale is named after its creator, American pharmacistWilbur Scoville. His method, devised in 1912, is known as the Scoville Organoleptic Test.^[2] Unlike methods based on high-performance liquid chromatography, the Scoville scale is an empirical measurement dependent on the capsaicin sensitivity of testers and so is not a precise or accurate method to measurecapsaicinoid concentration. In Scoville’s method, an exact weight of dried pepper is dissolved in alcohol to extract the heat components (capsinoids), then diluted in a solution of sugar water.^[3][4][5] Increasing concentrations of the extracted capsinoids are given to a panel of five trained tasters, until a majority (at least three) can detect the heat in a dilution.^[4][5][6] The heat level is based on this dilution, rated in multiples of 100 SHU.^[4] A weakness of the Scoville Organoleptic Test is its imprecision due to human subjectivity, depending on the taster’s palate and their number of mouth heat receptors, which varies “greatly” among people.^[6] Another weakness issensory fatigue:^[6] the palate is quickly desensitised to capsaicins after tasting a few samples within a short-time period.^[4] Results vary widely, ± 50%, between laboratories.^[5]

The post #1580: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramen (New Edition) appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

This was sent to me by Anders E. from South Korea – thank you very much! For some time new, eMart’s Dare You! Habanero Ramen has topped The Ramen Rater’s Spiciest Instant Noodle Of All Time lists. There’s a really good reason for this too – it’s violently hot. Heat is measure in SHU – Scoville Heat Units. Here’s what wikipedia has to say about the Scoville test:

The Scoville scale is the measurement of the pungency (spicy heat) of chili peppers or other spicy foods as reported in Scoville heat units (SHU),^[1] a function of capsaicin concentration. The scale is named after its creator, American pharmacistWilbur Scoville. His method, devised in 1912, is known as the Scoville Organoleptic Test.^[2] Unlike methods based on high-performance liquid chromatography, the Scoville scale is an empirical measurement dependent on the capsaicin sensitivity of testers and so is not a precise or accurate method to measurecapsaicinoid concentration. In Scoville’s method, an exact weight of dried pepper is dissolved in alcohol to extract the heat components (capsinoids), then diluted in a solution of sugar water.^[3][4][5] Increasing concentrations of the extracted capsinoids are given to a panel of five trained tasters, until a majority (at least three) can detect the heat in a dilution.^[4][5][6] The heat level is based on this dilution, rated in multiples of 100 SHU.^[4] A weakness of the Scoville Organoleptic Test is its imprecision due to human subjectivity, depending on the taster’s palate and their number of mouth heat receptors, which varies “greatly” among people.^[6]Another weakness issensory fatigue:^[6] the palate is quickly desensitised to capsaicins after tasting a few samples within a short-time period.^[4] Results vary widely, ± 50%, between laboratories.^[5]

Detail of the lid (click image to enlarge).

The noodle block.

The soup base sachet.

Hot and spicy scent!

Some vegetables from the bottom of the cup.

Finished (click image to enlarge). The noodles hydrated well enough and had that big and thick ramyun gauge. The broth was definitely nowhere neat as spicy as the packaged version, whose heat can peel the think off of your brain. It is quite hot though and has a good flavor to it. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8801073210011.

Want to feel your mouth catch on fire? Like using a charcoal briquet as a lozenge? You’ve been warned – get it here!!

I did an interview for O’Live TV via Skype in 2013 that was all about the spiciest instant noodles. They ended up using it as part of a teaser for the show’s first episode.

The post #1674: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramen (New Packaging) appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

Every year, I review a ton of instant noodles – and every year I come out with quite a few lists. This list tends to change the least of all my lists – I’ve had a lot of spicy instant noodles in my time and just seems like nobody’s getting any spicier products to market. Could be that they don’t want to melt people’s faces off perhaps. Anyways, here’s this year’s list – the spiciest varieties out of over 2,100 reviews. Enjoy – if you dare!

A video presentation of The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition.

#10: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja – South Korea

While still not available in the United States, Jinjja Jinjja is back in South Korea! This one packs a serious punch of heat along with pork, peanut and black sesame seeds. Original review here

#9: JML Emperor Instant Noodles Spicy Chicken – China

I wasn’t expecting this one to be extremely spicy at the outset and then was in for a ride. Very very hot – augmented with a large sachet of coarse chilli peppers. Original review here

#8: emart Dare You! Habanero Jjamppong – South Korea

Extreme heat is paired with nice bit of seafood broth and lots of bits of seafood. All the fire and flavor melded together with thick ramyun noodles make it hot as well as delicious. This one comes in at 1,960 SHU (Scoville Heat Units). Original review here

#7: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle – Malaysia

MyKuali’s new recipe added a big punch of heat to their already amazing and groundbreaking Penang White Curry Noodle. Thick almost saucelike broth fires up the palate and includes a generous amount of garlic this time. Original review here

#6: Ching’s Secret Hot Garlic Instant Noodles – India

When I found this one at a local Indian market, I was very enthused. I thought to myself ‘hey, I like garlic!’ I kind of expected a salty, buttery and almost fettucini kind of thing. But no – this innocuous looking plate of noodles was violently spicy! Super hot garlic spiciness just builds and builds! Original review here

#5: Mi E-Zee Perisa Kari Mi Segera – Malaysia

The noodles plumped up well and were nice and springy. The broth – ah, the broth. Here’s the improvement! The curry taste is much stronger (the old version called for 450ml water and this one calls for 400ml) – not only that, the little sachet of chilli pepper flake just puts it over the top. It’s hot – real hot – like walking around the living room as my mouth and lips are burning saying ‘ooh’ repeatedly hot. Original review

#4: Paldo Teumsae Ramyun – South Korea

On the list for four years now! Another South Korean ramyun with serious kick to it. This isn’t to be trifled with!  Teumsae has restaurants in South Korea which serve up some seriously spicy fare. I really like the text underneath the word Teumsae which reads, ‘Flavor. Culture. Human’ Original review here

#3: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyeon – South Korea

I would say that I’ve seen dozens of videos on YouTube showing people competitively eating this one. This stuff is extremely hot. Another brothless variety and it really packs a punch as well as has a nice taste to it. Thick ramyun noodles round everything out nicely and will transmit the spicy sauce to your tongue. Original review here

#2: Paldo Bulnak Bokkummyun Spicy Fried Octopus Ramyun – South Korea

See that little octopus on the package with the smile on his face? He’s laughing. Laughing as he watches you sweat as you eat this ultra spicy ramyun! I’m not kidding this one was over the top spicy! Bring a fire extinguisher. Original review here

#1: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramyun – South Korea

For the fourth year running, this stuff tops the list. Despite a packaging design change, you should still heed the warnings; habanero pepper top right corner, temperature gauge and screaming person, black packaging… Yeah – it’s not one to underestimate; this is violently hot. The broth just keeps delivering the heat and it’s just insane. Try licking a lit candle – I swear this stuff is hotter! Original review here

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I started doing top ten lists over 5 years ago. So one list that’s been increasingly popular over the years has been The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time series. Debate over which is hotter than the other has been going on for a very long time. Finally, one thing’s for sure, South Korean varieties dominate this list.

The Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

One variety that has captivated the world is Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun. The ‘Fire Noodle Challenge’ is something of legend; people will try to eat a bowl of the spicy noodles as fast as they can and then (usually in a YouTube video), the reaction to the heat is seen, ranging from silence to screaming, calmness to dripping sweat. 

The viral mania of this challenge has finally prompted me to release a special series on the varieties and some info on them you might not know. I have included a boatload of information in this post – check out the video as well as all the information below it!

Video Presentation

This is a presentation I’ve made including lots of informational as well as me taking down a bowl of the 2x Spicy noodles.

Varieties

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen / 불닭볶음면 / Buldak Bokkueummyun / Launch 2012.4.16 / SHU 4,404

The original ‘Fire Noodle.’ This comes in packs, bowls and cups. The bowls are commonly used in the popular YouTube ‘Fire Noodle Challenge’ videos. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Cheese / 치즈불닭볶음면 / Cheese Buldak Bokkueummyun Launch 2016.3 / SHU 2,323

Significantly less fiery than the original Buldak Bokkeummyun, the cheese version includes a sachet of cheese powder. Available in pack, cup and bowl. Originally was sold in packs with a black background, however people mistook it for the original version. A more ‘cheese colored’ background was then chosen. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Stew Type / 불닭볶음탕면 / Buldak Bokkueumtangmyun Launch 2016.8 / SHU 4,705

The ‘Stew Type’ has (you guessed it) broth. These are available in packs and bowls. I have seen many people make the original variety incorrectly and enjoy it as a soup, but this one is meant to have a broth. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Cool/Ice Type / 쿨불닭볶음면 / Cool/Ice Buldak Bokkueummyun Launch 2016.8 / SHU 4,404

I believe this is only available in packs. Originally called ‘Cool,’ the folks at Samyang decided it might be a good idea to market it as ‘Ice’ outside of South Korea so nobody got confused. Full review

2X Spicy HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen / 핵불닭볶음면 / Hack Buldak Bokkueummyun / Launch 2016.1 / SHU 8,808

A double-spicy version of original Buldak Bokkeummyun. These are available in packs and bowls. They mention that they are a ‘limited edition,’ but I couldn’t find out when they would be discontinued. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Curry / 커리불닭볶음면 / Curry Buldak Bokkueummyun   Launch 2016.12 / SHU 3,810

The most recent (as of this guide’s release) is Curry. It is available in packs and bowls. Less spicy than the original Buldak Bokkeummyun, it has a nice curry flavor to it. Full review

Hot Chicken Ramen Snack / 부셔먹는 라면스낵불닭 / Busyeomeongneun Ramyeonseunaek
Buldak / Launch 2016.6

Snack noodles in South Korea are very popular. These are crushed while still in the bag and then the sachet is taken out and sprinkled into the bag. The bag is closed and then you shake it to disperse the flavor. Alternately, there is a cooking instruction on the package as well. Full review

ZZALDDUCK SNACK / 짤떡 / Zzaldduck / Launch 2014.12

These are short tubes with a crunchy texture. They have a sweet and spicy character to them much like a very light Buldak Bokkeummyun seasoning. They resemble macaroni or penne pasta. Full review

Correct Preparation Of Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

1) Put the noodles and flakes into 600ml boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
2) Please remove the water from noodles (reserve 8 spoons of water (120ml = 15ml * 8 or 1/2 cup)) and put liquid soup Into noodles, stir-fry 30 seconds.
3) Add flakes, stir well, and serve.

Interview

I was fortunate to be able to interview Amelia Kwak / Overseas sales support team / Brand manager on the subject of Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun line of products.

THE RAMEN RATER> How did you originally come to decide to produce a super spicy instant noodle?

SAMYANG FOODS> Kim Jung-Su, the president of our company, noticed people crowded in a restaurant which served spicy chickens and had an idea to develop a new stir-type of instant noodle. Our marketing and R&D team tried more than 1,200 spicy chicken dishes and 2 tons of spicy sauce to find deliciously spicy tastes. We finally discovered the best portion of spicy sauce and launched ‘Buldak Bokkeummyun’.

TRR> What about the risks in producing a product that many will not be able to handle due to spicy level?

SAMYANG FOODS> Actually, Koreans like spicy tastes so we thought there’s customer needs of spicy ramen so we thought many people like it. However, overseas consumers can’t eat spicy food well, thus we were a little worried about it. Despite of that problem, overseas people also like Buldak. In my opinion, they seem to enjoy the challenge and relieve their stress when they try it.

TRR> What does Buldak Bokkeummyun mean; what is Korean spicy chicken like?

SAMYANG FOODS> It means a Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen. ‘Bulkdak’ means spicy chicken and ‘Bokkeummyun’ means stirred type of noodles. Korean spicy chicken is literally spicy chicken. In Korea, many restaurants usually cook it with very hot flavor adding red pepper, which is more spicy than general Korean food. So, it is hard to eat even for Korean. We added noodle on hot chicken flavor, so we could make characteristic noodle.

TRR> How did the Fire Noodle Challenge originate?

SAMYANG FOODS> Due to extremely spicy taste, Buldak Bokkeummyun mania were formed at first. Then, diverse recipe has been introduced by them, and spread through some Social Network Service channel especially on YOUTUBE. Also, extremely spicy taste has been issued by the public. Based on this issue, people are still challenging to eat it worldwide.

TRR> Did you expect the level of popularity of this super spicy product?

SAMYANG FOODS> We strongly believed the success of “Buldak Bokkuemmyun” because there had been no this kind of stirred type of instant noodles until 2012. We thought many people who like spicy tastes would be addicted to that tastes as our product is characterized in deliciously spicy.

TRR> How do you measure the SHU – is there a special test and how is the number calculated?

SAMYANG FOODS> SHU is a measurement of the spicy heat of chili peppers. Our R&D center analyzes the component of capsaicin and dehydrocapsaicin which cause spicy tastes in liquid soup. Then, we calculate SHU by standard equation.

TRR> Can you detail exactly how you figure out the SHU a little more? Is spectrometry used? What is the standard formula you mentioned?

SAMYANG FOODS> As I told you, SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) is a measurement of the spicy heat of chili peppers. First, we measure the concentration of capsaicin and dehydrocapsacin by using the HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). Then, we measure scoville heat units by using the equation below. (Although there is no official rule of calculating SHU, we have used the equation which is generally used.)

SHU = ( Dehydrocapsacin conc. X 0.82 + Capsacin conc. ) X 16
※ Concentration unit = μg/g

TRR> The chicken character has changed from it’s original look. Does the chicken have a name and can you tell a little more about the mascot?
SAMYANG FOODS> Name: HOCHI
Birthday : April 13
Character

• Addicted to spicy taste.
• Full of confidence and motivation, but whimsical
  Features:
• Having the worst fashion sense and dreaming of being a food stylist.
• A poorly proportioned body
• Poor at housekeeping
• Can eat five packs of HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen at a time.

TRR> There have been a lot of people cooking the original Buldak Bokkeummyun with soup instead of as a dry stir noodle. What are the official cooking instructions for cooking the original Buldak Bokkeummyun on the package (for those who can’t read Korea)?

SAMYANG FOODS> Dry stir noodle type is our official cooking instruction
Below is our instruction appeared in our packing material.

1) Put the noodles and flakes into 600ml boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
2) Please remove the water from noodles(remain 8 spoon of water) and put liquid soup Into noodles, stir-fry 30 seconds.
3) Add flakes, stir well, and serve.

TRR> Exactly how many mL 8 spoons of water are?

SAMYANG FOODS> 8 table spoon of water would be approximately 120ml. (15ml per spoon)

TRR> Other than the container, is there a difference between the pack version and the bowl versions?

SAMYANG FOODS> There is little differences in ingredients because we tried best to minimize those differences. However, you can notice small differences because of cooking method. In a case of bowl type, Stir time is skipped so it’s more spicy than pack version. Actually, noodles release starch during stir time so, spicy taste is relatively relived

TRR> Are there new Buldak Bokkeummyun varieties coming soon? Can you share what they might be?

SAMYANG FOODS> We have launched new Buldak Bokkeummyun series. One is Curry Buldak Bokkeummyun (HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Curry) and other is Hack Buldak Bokkeummyun (2X spicy Hot Chicken flavor Ramen).

Curry Buldak : In curry Bulkdak, taste of curry and original Buldak have been well balanced. However, it is only for foreign consumers, not be sold in Korea yet.

Hack Buldak : Hack Buldak’s SHU is twice as spicy in comparison to buldak. It is a limited edition so we recommend you to try it. I guess it is the most spicy instant noodle in the world.

THE RAMEN RATER> Thank you for giving my readers the opportunity to find out more about the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun range!

Nomenclature/Translation/Timeline

This list (click to enlarge) was supplied by Samyang Foods.

Mascot

Name: HOCHI (click image to enlarge)
Birthday : April 13
Character

• Addicted to spicy taste.
• Full of confidence and motivation, but whimsical
  Features:
• Having the worst fashion sense and dreaming of being a food stylist.
• A poorly proportioned body
• Poor at housekeeping
• Can eat five packs of HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen at a time.

I want to thank all the great people at Samyang Foods to make this special feature possible, especially Amelia, Taehoon and Joey who helped with making this special series possible. They sent samples and answered so many questions I’ve posed to them kindly.

I also want to thank Colin, a reader from Massachusetts who originally sent me the Ice Type for review, 1theKorea, an eBay seller who was very helpful in sourcing varieties and helping greatly. Moreover, you can find many South Korean instant varieties in his store. Anders and Ji-Min, readers from South Korea for sending some great varieties. Finally, I would like to thank my son Andreas for being so adventurous at the age of 11 to try the 2x spicy. Indeed, spicy food has never been his thing and he ate a big bite and survived! You can see part of the video with us trying the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun 2x Spicy in the end credits of the above video and our full video in the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun 2x Spicy review.

The post The Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

I got a couple packages today. They came from a company in Korea called emart  (이마트) – they sell everything you could imagine, and have their own brand of instant noodles!

They sent eight six pack bags of noodles!

Whoa – these look spicy! They’re called Dare You Habanero Ramen!

They also sent this large flat package containing…

…a couple of posters! Hey thank you! I’ll be reviewing these probably tomorrow – man I bet they’re spicy! That guy on the package looks to be burning up! Thanks go to Stan from emart! Here‘s emart’s website,.

The post New Product Samples From Korea’s emart! appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

Just a note – there’s a new number one on the Top Ten Spiciest Noodles Of All Time List! It’s South Korea’s emart with Dare You! Habanero Ramen!!! Man, it sure was hot! Go have a look here!

The post Update To The Top Ten Spiciest Noodles Of All Time List appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

Well this one looks to be extremely spicy. Samyang Foods sent some instructions along as everything on the back of these packages are in Korean. Well, they also added a little advice:

If it is too spicy for you to finish, you’d better add a soft-fried egg, vegetables or some chicken My fingers are crossed for you!

Wow – I think I’ve got my work cut out for me on this one! Spicy chicken stir noodles… Let’s do it!

The back of the package (click to enlarge). Notice the little grumpy chicken talking about SHU. SHU are Scoville Heat Units, a way to rate the degree of spiciness. The scornful fowl is warning us about this being 4,404 SHU. I’ve found a variety in the past that has 5,930 SHU – that was really hot! Curious how I’ll do with this one…

The noodle block.

The liquid packet.

Oh dude. It kind of looks like fire with smoke coming up from it, doesn’t it? Gave a taste with a toothpick – it’s tasty and then super hot! Being a stir noodle, this will be undiluted by water.

A black and white packet. Hot pepper flake, perhaps?

Looks like some seaweed and sesame seeds.

Finished (click image to enlarge). Added baked chicken seasoned with adobo and Cavender’s Greek seasoning, sweet onion, fried egg and green onions. As I always do in my reviews, I sampled the product before adding all my own garnishes. The noodles are thick and chewy. The flavoring is pretty good – extreme spiciness! Has a nice kind of fried chicken taste. The sesame and seaweed ass a nice little finish. If you don’t like spicy foods, stay away! If you do, this will satisfy! Eyes watering and nose running! 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 8801073110502.

A Samyang commercial.

The post Meet The Manufacturer: #1028: Samyang Foods Buldalk Bokkeummyeon (Hot Fried Chicken Ramyun) appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

Time for some extremely spicy noodles! This is another one from eMart, makers of Dare You Habanero Ramyun. Dare You weighs in at 5,930SHU (Scoville Heat Units) – the hottest I’ve had thus far. This one’s 3,960SHU – not as fiery hot, but definitely not to be trifled with! Jjampong is a seafood soup. You ready?

Here’s the back of the package (click image to enlarge). Contains seafood.

The noodle block.

The powder seasoning.

A speck of this was tasted – A nice flavor and a fiery heat that engulfed my whole mouth!

An oil packet – kind of looks like it’s full of fire!

Has a color not unlike habanero peppers.

The veggies and seafood.

A little smorgasbord.

Finished (click image to enlarge). Added odeng, kamaboko, narutomaki (all three are different kinds of fish cake), red, orange and yellow bell pepper and some onion. The noodles are very nice – thick and great consistency. The broth is spicy – like a fire in your mouth! If you took away the heat, you would find a nice and rich seafood flavor. I found that the two components compliment each other nicely in the broth. The pieces of vegetable and seafood are quite nice – they hydrated well. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 8801073110014.

I think this is one of the most ingenious marketing ideas of all time.

The post #1037: emart Dare You Habanero Jjamppong appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

This year, we’ve got some new fiery additions to this list of spicy and burning hot varieties. If you can find them, you’ll be feeling quite the burn! If you think you’ve found anything hotter or noteworthy of being on this list, please comment below or send me an email. Without further adieu, here’s the 2013 picks for the spiciest instant noodles I’ve found after 1,128 reviews!

#10: Indomie Mi Instan Mi Goreng Rasa Cabe Ijo – Indonesia

With a spicy green chilli bite, this brothless variety from Indonesia came onto the scene in 2012. It’s unique green color is fun to see and it’s flavor is top-notch. This is the only green chilli flavored instant I’ve seen to date. Original review here

#9: JML (Jinmailang) Artificial Spicy Hot Beef – China

JM also makes a Spicy Beef variety, but this one is Hot Spicy Beef. The title doesn’t lie; it’s vicious! Along with the fire is a nice hearty broth and excellent noodles. Original review here

#8: Namchow Mee Jang Sour Spicy Chicken – Thailand

I get a kick out of this one because if you don’t look closely, this looks like a happy little chicken flavor noodle bowl. Looks can be deceiving though! The broth is a fiery melding of citrus and chili pepper fire that will test your gumption. Original review here

#7: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle – Malaysia

This is Malaysia’s first time on any of my top ten lists. This is some really hot and fiery curry. It’s also one of the best curry instant noodles I’ve ever had. The noodles are a little thicker and the curry paste is ample. Original review here

#6: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja Flamin’ Hot & Nutty Noodle Soup – United States

A melange of intense heat, pork broth and a peanut powder packet with little black sesame seeds. This South Korean ramyun is absolutely amazing. First in South Korea exclusively, they now produce it here in the United States as well, so it’s pretty easy to come by. Original review here

#5: Indomie Curly Noodle With Chicken & Chilli Paddi – Indonesia

A nice chicken mi goreng with a surprise. The Bird’s Eye chilli that lurks within will change your day in a second. The thing could be anywhere in a bowl – but you will definitely know when you’ve bitten into it – intense, lingering heat will ensue and bring you to your knees. Original review here

#4: emart Dare You! Habanero Jjamppong – South Korea

Extreme heat is paired with nice bit of seafood broth and lots of bits of seafood. All the fire and flavor melded together with thick ramyun noodles make it hot as well as delicious. This one comes in at 1,960 SHU (Scoville Heat Units). Original review here

#3: Paldo Teumsae Ramyun – South Korea

Another South Korean ramyun with serious kick to it. This isn’t to be trifled with!  Teumsae has restaurants in South Korea which serve up some seriously spicy fare. I really like the text undernerath the word Teumsae which reads, ‘Flavor. Culture. Human’ Original review here

#2: Samyang Foods Buldalk Bokkeummyeon – South Korea

The English translation? Hot fried chicken flavor. This one is yet another brothless variety and it really packs a punch as well as has a nice taste to it. Thick ramyun noodles round everything out nicely and will transmit the spicy sauce to your tongue. Original review here

#1: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramyun – South Korea

At 5,930 SHU, this variety tops the list for a second year in a row. I think the only way to make something hotter would be to drop in some pure capsicum oleoresin! If you like the absolutely spiciest stuff, this is for you. If not, then you’re in for some serious pain. Endure the burn! Original review here

The post The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All time 2013 Edition appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

On my Top Ten Spicy list, the package version of this is #1. Hottest thing ever – hands down! Well, they also sent me the cup version – let’s see how spicy this sucker’s gonna be!

Here are the side panels (click image to enlarge). Can’t read Korean, but pretty sure there is a little beef in this one. To prepare, add soup base sachet and boiling water up to inner line. Cover and after 4 minutes, stir and enjoy.

Here’s the lid (click image to enlarge).

The noodle block.

The soup base sachet.

Oh yeah this stuff smells spicy.

Here are the veggies and meaty bits from the inside of the cup.

 Finished (click image to enlarge). Added sweet onion and sauteed beef. The noodles are pretty good for a cup. I found as the meal went on, they seemed to only get better; maybe an extra minute or two during the steeping could be a winner here. The broth is, well, HOT. If you don’t like spicy, run away, screaming and wetting yourself. I’m not kidding! The veggies are really nice in this one as well. Just ridiculously hot. 3.25 out of 5.0 stars. UPC bar code 8801073210011.

Just watch him eat it – you know what’s going to happen!

The post #1236: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramyun appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

This was sent to me by Anders E. from South Korea – thank you very much! For some time new, eMart’s Dare You! Habanero Ramen has topped The Ramen Rater’s Spiciest Instant Noodle Of All Time lists. There’s a really good reason for this too – it’s violently hot. Heat is measure in SHU – Scoville Heat Units. Here’s what wikipedia has to say about the Scoville test:

The Scoville scale is the measurement of the pungency (spicy heat) of chili peppers or other spicy foods as reported in Scoville heat units (SHU),^[1] a function of capsaicin concentration. The scale is named after its creator, American pharmacistWilbur Scoville. His method, devised in 1912, is known as the Scoville Organoleptic Test.^[2] Unlike methods based on high-performance liquid chromatography, the Scoville scale is an empirical measurement dependent on the capsaicin sensitivity of testers and so is not a precise or accurate method to measurecapsaicinoid concentration. In Scoville’s method, an exact weight of dried pepper is dissolved in alcohol to extract the heat components (capsinoids), then diluted in a solution of sugar water.^[3][4][5] Increasing concentrations of the extracted capsinoids are given to a panel of five trained tasters, until a majority (at least three) can detect the heat in a dilution.^[4][5][6] The heat level is based on this dilution, rated in multiples of 100 SHU.^[4] A weakness of the Scoville Organoleptic Test is its imprecision due to human subjectivity, depending on the taster’s palate and their number of mouth heat receptors, which varies “greatly” among people.^[6] Another weakness issensory fatigue:^[6] the palate is quickly desensitised to capsaicins after tasting a few samples within a short-time period.^[4] Results vary widely, ± 50%, between laboratories.^[5]

The post #1580: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramen (New Edition) appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

This was sent to me by Anders E. from South Korea – thank you very much! For some time new, eMart’s Dare You! Habanero Ramen has topped The Ramen Rater’s Spiciest Instant Noodle Of All Time lists. There’s a really good reason for this too – it’s violently hot. Heat is measure in SHU – Scoville Heat Units. Here’s what wikipedia has to say about the Scoville test:

The Scoville scale is the measurement of the pungency (spicy heat) of chili peppers or other spicy foods as reported in Scoville heat units (SHU),^[1] a function of capsaicin concentration. The scale is named after its creator, American pharmacistWilbur Scoville. His method, devised in 1912, is known as the Scoville Organoleptic Test.^[2] Unlike methods based on high-performance liquid chromatography, the Scoville scale is an empirical measurement dependent on the capsaicin sensitivity of testers and so is not a precise or accurate method to measurecapsaicinoid concentration. In Scoville’s method, an exact weight of dried pepper is dissolved in alcohol to extract the heat components (capsinoids), then diluted in a solution of sugar water.^[3][4][5] Increasing concentrations of the extracted capsinoids are given to a panel of five trained tasters, until a majority (at least three) can detect the heat in a dilution.^[4][5][6] The heat level is based on this dilution, rated in multiples of 100 SHU.^[4] A weakness of the Scoville Organoleptic Test is its imprecision due to human subjectivity, depending on the taster’s palate and their number of mouth heat receptors, which varies “greatly” among people.^[6]Another weakness issensory fatigue:^[6] the palate is quickly desensitised to capsaicins after tasting a few samples within a short-time period.^[4] Results vary widely, ± 50%, between laboratories.^[5]

Detail of the lid (click image to enlarge).

The noodle block.

The soup base sachet.

Hot and spicy scent!

Some vegetables from the bottom of the cup.

Finished (click image to enlarge). The noodles hydrated well enough and had that big and thick ramyun gauge. The broth was definitely nowhere neat as spicy as the packaged version, whose heat can peel the think off of your brain. It is quite hot though and has a good flavor to it. 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 8801073210011.

Want to feel your mouth catch on fire? Like using a charcoal briquet as a lozenge? You’ve been warned – get it here!!

I did an interview for O’Live TV via Skype in 2013 that was all about the spiciest instant noodles. They ended up using it as part of a teaser for the show’s first episode.

The post #1674: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramen (New Packaging) appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

Every year, I review a ton of instant noodles – and every year I come out with quite a few lists. This list tends to change the least of all my lists – I’ve had a lot of spicy instant noodles in my time and just seems like nobody’s getting any spicier products to market. Could be that they don’t want to melt people’s faces off perhaps. Anyways, here’s this year’s list – the spiciest varieties out of over 2,100 reviews. Enjoy – if you dare!

A video presentation of The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition.

#10: Nongshim Jinjja Jinjja – South Korea

While still not available in the United States, Jinjja Jinjja is back in South Korea! This one packs a serious punch of heat along with pork, peanut and black sesame seeds. Original review here

#9: JML Emperor Instant Noodles Spicy Chicken – China

I wasn’t expecting this one to be extremely spicy at the outset and then was in for a ride. Very very hot – augmented with a large sachet of coarse chilli peppers. Original review here

#8: emart Dare You! Habanero Jjamppong – South Korea

Extreme heat is paired with nice bit of seafood broth and lots of bits of seafood. All the fire and flavor melded together with thick ramyun noodles make it hot as well as delicious. This one comes in at 1,960 SHU (Scoville Heat Units). Original review here

#7: MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle – Malaysia

MyKuali’s new recipe added a big punch of heat to their already amazing and groundbreaking Penang White Curry Noodle. Thick almost saucelike broth fires up the palate and includes a generous amount of garlic this time. Original review here

#6: Ching’s Secret Hot Garlic Instant Noodles – India

When I found this one at a local Indian market, I was very enthused. I thought to myself ‘hey, I like garlic!’ I kind of expected a salty, buttery and almost fettucini kind of thing. But no – this innocuous looking plate of noodles was violently spicy! Super hot garlic spiciness just builds and builds! Original review here

#5: Mi E-Zee Perisa Kari Mi Segera – Malaysia

The noodles plumped up well and were nice and springy. The broth – ah, the broth. Here’s the improvement! The curry taste is much stronger (the old version called for 450ml water and this one calls for 400ml) – not only that, the little sachet of chilli pepper flake just puts it over the top. It’s hot – real hot – like walking around the living room as my mouth and lips are burning saying ‘ooh’ repeatedly hot. Original review

#4: Paldo Teumsae Ramyun – South Korea

On the list for four years now! Another South Korean ramyun with serious kick to it. This isn’t to be trifled with!  Teumsae has restaurants in South Korea which serve up some seriously spicy fare. I really like the text underneath the word Teumsae which reads, ‘Flavor. Culture. Human’ Original review here

#3: Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyeon – South Korea

I would say that I’ve seen dozens of videos on YouTube showing people competitively eating this one. This stuff is extremely hot. Another brothless variety and it really packs a punch as well as has a nice taste to it. Thick ramyun noodles round everything out nicely and will transmit the spicy sauce to your tongue. Original review here

#2: Paldo Bulnak Bokkummyun Spicy Fried Octopus Ramyun – South Korea

See that little octopus on the package with the smile on his face? He’s laughing. Laughing as he watches you sweat as you eat this ultra spicy ramyun! I’m not kidding this one was over the top spicy! Bring a fire extinguisher. Original review here

#1: emart Dare You! Habanero Ramyun – South Korea

For the fourth year running, this stuff tops the list. Despite a packaging design change, you should still heed the warnings; habanero pepper top right corner, temperature gauge and screaming person, black packaging… Yeah – it’s not one to underestimate; this is violently hot. The broth just keeps delivering the heat and it’s just insane. Try licking a lit candle – I swear this stuff is hotter! Original review here

The post The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time 2016 Edition appeared first on The Ramen Rater.

I started doing top ten lists over 5 years ago. So one list that’s been increasingly popular over the years has been The Ramen Rater’s Top Ten Spiciest Instant Noodles Of All Time series. Debate over which is hotter than the other has been going on for a very long time. Finally, one thing’s for sure, South Korean varieties dominate this list.

The Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

One variety that has captivated the world is Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun. The ‘Fire Noodle Challenge’ is something of legend; people will try to eat a bowl of the spicy noodles as fast as they can and then (usually in a YouTube video), the reaction to the heat is seen, ranging from silence to screaming, calmness to dripping sweat. 

The viral mania of this challenge has finally prompted me to release a special series on the varieties and some info on them you might not know. I have included a boatload of information in this post – check out the video as well as all the information below it!

Video Presentation

This is a presentation I’ve made including lots of informational as well as me taking down a bowl of the 2x Spicy noodles.

Varieties

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen / 불닭볶음면 / Buldak Bokkueummyun / Launch 2012.4.16 / SHU 4,404

The original ‘Fire Noodle.’ This comes in packs, bowls and cups. The bowls are commonly used in the popular YouTube ‘Fire Noodle Challenge’ videos. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Cheese / 치즈불닭볶음면 / Cheese Buldak Bokkueummyun Launch 2016.3 / SHU 2,323

Significantly less fiery than the original Buldak Bokkeummyun, the cheese version includes a sachet of cheese powder. Available in pack, cup and bowl. Originally was sold in packs with a black background, however people mistook it for the original version. A more ‘cheese colored’ background was then chosen. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Stew Type / 불닭볶음탕면 / Buldak Bokkueumtangmyun Launch 2016.8 / SHU 4,705

The ‘Stew Type’ has (you guessed it) broth. These are available in packs and bowls. I have seen many people make the original variety incorrectly and enjoy it as a soup, but this one is meant to have a broth. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Cool/Ice Type / 쿨불닭볶음면 / Cool/Ice Buldak Bokkueummyun Launch 2016.8 / SHU 4,404

I believe this is only available in packs. Originally called ‘Cool,’ the folks at Samyang decided it might be a good idea to market it as ‘Ice’ outside of South Korea so nobody got confused. Full review

2X Spicy HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen / 핵불닭볶음면 / Hack Buldak Bokkueummyun / Launch 2016.1 / SHU 8,808

A double-spicy version of original Buldak Bokkeummyun. These are available in packs and bowls. They mention that they are a ‘limited edition,’ but I couldn’t find out when they would be discontinued. Full review

HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Curry / 커리불닭볶음면 / Curry Buldak Bokkueummyun   Launch 2016.12 / SHU 3,810

The most recent (as of this guide’s release) is Curry. It is available in packs and bowls. Less spicy than the original Buldak Bokkeummyun, it has a nice curry flavor to it. Full review

Hot Chicken Ramen Snack / 부셔먹는 라면스낵불닭 / Busyeomeongneun Ramyeonseunaek
Buldak / Launch 2016.6

Snack noodles in South Korea are very popular. These are crushed while still in the bag and then the sachet is taken out and sprinkled into the bag. The bag is closed and then you shake it to disperse the flavor. Alternately, there is a cooking instruction on the package as well. Full review

ZZALDDUCK SNACK / 짤떡 / Zzaldduck / Launch 2014.12

These are short tubes with a crunchy texture. They have a sweet and spicy character to them much like a very light Buldak Bokkeummyun seasoning. They resemble macaroni or penne pasta. Full review

Correct Preparation Of Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun

1) Put the noodles and flakes into 600ml boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
2) Please remove the water from noodles (reserve 8 spoons of water (120ml = 15ml * 8 or 1/2 cup)) and put liquid soup Into noodles, stir-fry 30 seconds.
3) Add flakes, stir well, and serve.

Interview

I was fortunate to be able to interview Amelia Kwak / Overseas sales support team / Brand manager on the subject of Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun line of products.

THE RAMEN RATER> How did you originally come to decide to produce a super spicy instant noodle?

SAMYANG FOODS> Kim Jung-Su, the president of our company, noticed people crowded in a restaurant which served spicy chickens and had an idea to develop a new stir-type of instant noodle. Our marketing and R&D team tried more than 1,200 spicy chicken dishes and 2 tons of spicy sauce to find deliciously spicy tastes. We finally discovered the best portion of spicy sauce and launched ‘Buldak Bokkeummyun’.

TRR> What about the risks in producing a product that many will not be able to handle due to spicy level?

SAMYANG FOODS> Actually, Koreans like spicy tastes so we thought there’s customer needs of spicy ramen so we thought many people like it. However, overseas consumers can’t eat spicy food well, thus we were a little worried about it. Despite of that problem, overseas people also like Buldak. In my opinion, they seem to enjoy the challenge and relieve their stress when they try it.

TRR> What does Buldak Bokkeummyun mean; what is Korean spicy chicken like?

SAMYANG FOODS> It means a Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen. ‘Bulkdak’ means spicy chicken and ‘Bokkeummyun’ means stirred type of noodles. Korean spicy chicken is literally spicy chicken. In Korea, many restaurants usually cook it with very hot flavor adding red pepper, which is more spicy than general Korean food. So, it is hard to eat even for Korean. We added noodle on hot chicken flavor, so we could make characteristic noodle.

TRR> How did the Fire Noodle Challenge originate?

SAMYANG FOODS> Due to extremely spicy taste, Buldak Bokkeummyun mania were formed at first. Then, diverse recipe has been introduced by them, and spread through some Social Network Service channel especially on YOUTUBE. Also, extremely spicy taste has been issued by the public. Based on this issue, people are still challenging to eat it worldwide.

TRR> Did you expect the level of popularity of this super spicy product?

SAMYANG FOODS> We strongly believed the success of “Buldak Bokkuemmyun” because there had been no this kind of stirred type of instant noodles until 2012. We thought many people who like spicy tastes would be addicted to that tastes as our product is characterized in deliciously spicy.

TRR> How do you measure the SHU – is there a special test and how is the number calculated?

SAMYANG FOODS> SHU is a measurement of the spicy heat of chili peppers. Our R&D center analyzes the component of capsaicin and dehydrocapsaicin which cause spicy tastes in liquid soup. Then, we calculate SHU by standard equation.

TRR> Can you detail exactly how you figure out the SHU a little more? Is spectrometry used? What is the standard formula you mentioned?

SAMYANG FOODS> As I told you, SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) is a measurement of the spicy heat of chili peppers. First, we measure the concentration of capsaicin and dehydrocapsacin by using the HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). Then, we measure scoville heat units by using the equation below. (Although there is no official rule of calculating SHU, we have used the equation which is generally used.)

SHU = ( Dehydrocapsacin conc. X 0.82 + Capsacin conc. ) X 16
※ Concentration unit = μg/g

TRR> The chicken character has changed from it’s original look. Does the chicken have a name and can you tell a little more about the mascot?
SAMYANG FOODS> Name: HOCHI
Birthday : April 13
Character

• Addicted to spicy taste.
• Full of confidence and motivation, but whimsical
  Features:
• Having the worst fashion sense and dreaming of being a food stylist.
• A poorly proportioned body
• Poor at housekeeping
• Can eat five packs of HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen at a time.

TRR> There have been a lot of people cooking the original Buldak Bokkeummyun with soup instead of as a dry stir noodle. What are the official cooking instructions for cooking the original Buldak Bokkeummyun on the package (for those who can’t read Korea)?

SAMYANG FOODS> Dry stir noodle type is our official cooking instruction
Below is our instruction appeared in our packing material.

1) Put the noodles and flakes into 600ml boiling water and cook for 5 minutes.
2) Please remove the water from noodles(remain 8 spoon of water) and put liquid soup Into noodles, stir-fry 30 seconds.
3) Add flakes, stir well, and serve.

TRR> Exactly how many mL 8 spoons of water are?

SAMYANG FOODS> 8 table spoon of water would be approximately 120ml. (15ml per spoon)

TRR> Other than the container, is there a difference between the pack version and the bowl versions?

SAMYANG FOODS> There is little differences in ingredients because we tried best to minimize those differences. However, you can notice small differences because of cooking method. In a case of bowl type, Stir time is skipped so it’s more spicy than pack version. Actually, noodles release starch during stir time so, spicy taste is relatively relived

TRR> Are there new Buldak Bokkeummyun varieties coming soon? Can you share what they might be?

SAMYANG FOODS> We have launched new Buldak Bokkeummyun series. One is Curry Buldak Bokkeummyun (HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen Curry) and other is Hack Buldak Bokkeummyun (2X spicy Hot Chicken flavor Ramen).

Curry Buldak : In curry Bulkdak, taste of curry and original Buldak have been well balanced. However, it is only for foreign consumers, not be sold in Korea yet.

Hack Buldak : Hack Buldak’s SHU is twice as spicy in comparison to buldak. It is a limited edition so we recommend you to try it. I guess it is the most spicy instant noodle in the world.

THE RAMEN RATER> Thank you for giving my readers the opportunity to find out more about the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun range!

Nomenclature/Translation/Timeline

This list (click to enlarge) was supplied by Samyang Foods.

Mascot

Name: HOCHI (click image to enlarge)
Birthday : April 13
Character

• Addicted to spicy taste.
• Full of confidence and motivation, but whimsical
  Features:
• Having the worst fashion sense and dreaming of being a food stylist.
• A poorly proportioned body
• Poor at housekeeping
• Can eat five packs of HOT Chicken Flavor Ramen at a time.

I want to thank all the great people at Samyang Foods to make this special feature possible, especially Amelia, Taehoon and Joey who helped with making this special series possible. They sent samples and answered so many questions I’ve posed to them kindly.

I also want to thank Colin, a reader from Massachusetts who originally sent me the Ice Type for review, 1theKorea, an eBay seller who was very helpful in sourcing varieties and helping greatly. Moreover, you can find many South Korean instant varieties in his store. Anders and Ji-Min, readers from South Korea for sending some great varieties. Finally, I would like to thank my son Andreas for being so adventurous at the age of 11 to try the 2x spicy. Indeed, spicy food has never been his thing and he ate a big bite and survived! You can see part of the video with us trying the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun 2x Spicy in the end credits of the above video and our full video in the Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun 2x Spicy review.

The post The Definitive Guide To Samyang Foods Buldak Bokkeummyun appeared first on The Ramen Rater.