Paldo Ramyeon Tops Buldak in Spiciness Test
Paldo’s ‘Teumsae Ramyeon Ppalgyetteok’ was found to have a higher capsaicinoid content than Samyang Food’s ‘Buldak Bokkeummyun,’ which is considered the epitome of spicy ramyeon.On Nov. 10, the Korea Consumer Agency compared and announced the spiciness, nutritional components, and safety of 12 ramye
Korea's Consumer Agency discovered that Paldo's 'Teumsae Ramyeon Ppalgyetteok' possesses a higher concentration of capsaicinoids than the renowned Samyang Food 'Buldak Bokkeummyun.' On November 10th, the agency assessed and declared the spiciness, nutritional values, and safety of 12 ramyeon products available in the market, encompassing seven soup ramyeons and five stir-fried ramyeons.
The capsaicinoid content, measured per kilogram of ramyeon soup base and sauce, revealed that Paldo's 'Teumsae Ramyeon Ppalgyetteok' exhibited the highest quantity at 650 mg, surpassing Samyang Food's 'Buldak Bokkeummyun,' which held the top spot among stir-fried ramyeons at 285 mg. Interestingly, 'Teumsae Ramyeon Ppalgyetteok' outperformed 'Buldak Bokkeummyun,' which is frequently acknowledged as the spiciest ramyeon, in terms of capsaicinoid content.
All 12 surveyed products were categorized as having a spiciness level of Level 2 to Level 4 on the Korean Industrial Standards scale. Four of these products, namely 'Teumsae Ramyeon Ppalgyetteok,' Nongshim's 'Shin Ramyun The Red,' Samyang Food's 'Samyang Ramyeon Spicy' and 'Buldak Bokkeummyun,' were labeled as Level 4, the highest level.
However, it should be noted that a high capsaicinoid concentration in the ramyeon soup base and sauce does not directly equate to a stronger perceived spiciness when consumed. In fact, the agency explained that the capsaicinoid content in the noodles post-cooking is reduced compared to the original content in the ramyeon soup base and sauce.
Moreover, the agency observed that the disparity in capsaicinoid content among the surveyed products narrowed down to a maximum of 1.9 times, ranging from 20 to 37 mg/kg in the cooked noodles. When selecting ramyeon, consumers must also pay attention to the sodium content. Survey findings indicated that the sodium content per packet for all products exceeded half of the adult daily nutritional reference value of 2,000 mg.
The sodium content per packet for the seven soup ramyeons ranged from 1,611 to 2,080 mg, while for the five stir-fried ramyeons, it varied from 1,009 to 1,349 mg. Notably, 'Shin Ramyun The Red' had a sodium content of 2,080 mg, surpassing the daily reference value if the broth was entirely consumed. The Consumer Agency cautioned, "In soup ramyeon, approximately 70% of the total sodium is found in the broth" and urged consumers to exercise caution regarding excessive sodium intake by reducing the amount of ramyeon soup base and sauce during cooking or limiting the broth consumed.
The prices of the surveyed products differed. Among soup ramyeons, 'Samyang Ramyeon Spicy' was the most affordable at 684 won, while 'Teumsae Ramyeon Ppalgyetteok' recorded the highest price at 1,300 won, a price variation of 1.9 times. Among stir-fried ramyeons, Nongshim's 'Shin Ramyun Bokkeummyun' (995 won) was the least expensive, and Ottogi's 'Sesame Ramyeon Bokkeummyun' (1,420 won) was the most expensive, with a price difference of 1.4 times.
Prices were determined based on the sellers' official online stores as of last September. Furthermore, all products successfully passed safety tests assessing heavy metals, harmful substances, and microorganisms, adhering to the relevant standards.
Written by urgent.news from BusinessKorea's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
