Ippudo's cup noodles, a first from an Ippudo Group noodle company
Ippudo's signature ramen, "Shiromaru Motoaji," has made its debut as a vertical cup noodle. It has been available nationwide at mass retailers since September 1st, priced at 270 yen. The product was developed by Watanabe Seimen, a group company of Chikaranomoto Holdings, which operates Ippudo. This marks the first time an Ippudo cup noodle has been released by the company.
Ippudo's 'Shiromaru Motoaji' Becomes a Cup Noodle for the First Time
The cup noodle recreates the beloved taste of "Shiromaru Motoaji," a flavor cherished at Ippudo since its founding in 1985.
▲Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen Ippudo Shiromaru Motoaji The most time-consuming aspect of product development was the noodles. To achieve the crisp, thin noodles characteristic of Hakata Tonkotsu ramen in a cup noodle, they reportedly went through numerous prototypes, re-evaluating ingredients and manufacturing methods. The soup recreates Ippudo's smooth tonkotsu flavor and rich umami in a cup noodle, leveraging years of accumulated Ippudo technology and experience. They aimed for an elegant flavor that can be savored to the last drop, while preserving the unique aroma and mellow aftertaste of tonkotsu. Furthermore, by adding the separate lard seasoning oil at the end, it's said to enhance the deep richness and aroma of the tonkotsu.
I've Seen Ippudo Cup Noodles Before, But...
Ippudo has previously released supervised cup noodles through joint development with companies like Nissin Foods. This time, it's the first cup noodle produced by Watanabe Seimen, a group company of Chikaranomoto Holdings, just like Ippudo. Surprisingly, this marks a first in Ippudo's 41-year history. The challenge in commercialization was the easily softened Hakata thin noodles. While in restaurants, customers enjoy freshly boiled noodles with "kaedama" (noodle refills), recreating that texture in a cup noodle that only requires hot water was difficult, leading to numerous revisions of ingredients and manufacturing methods. Watanabe Seimen, in fact, has a 77-year track record of making Shinshu Soba. It is this Watanabe Seimen that took on the challenge of Ippudo's thin noodles. Since it's handled by a group company, one can expect a different level of authenticity compared to previous supervised products. I'm curious to try it!
*All prices in the article include tax.
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