The dashi showdown returns this year! "Hakata Udon" and "Shinshu Soba," unique to the series, also make an appearance.

Nissin Foods announced today, November 2nd, the limited-time release of six products in its "Nissin Donbei Annual Dashi Comparison" series.

Donbei's "East," "West," "Hakata," and "Shinshu" Varieties Now Available Nationwide!

The Japanese-style cup noodle brand "Donbei" offers different soup base flavors for Eastern and Western Japan, reflecting regional taste preferences.

The "Dashi Comparison" is an annual event that allows consumers to compare the distinct Donbei flavors from Eastern and Western Japan.

This year, a total of six products will be sold nationwide: the "Kitsune Udon" and "Tempura Soba" varieties for Eastern and Western Japan, plus Hakata-style Kitsune Udon and Shinshu-style Tempura Soba. The "Hakata" and "Shinshu" varieties are not part of the regular lineup and can only be savored through this special series.

All products are available nationwide, each priced at 267 yen.

▲Nissin Donbei Kitsune Udon Annual Dashi Comparison Hakata

The "Hakata" variety features a light-colored soup base, rich with seafood dashi from ingredients like grilled flying fish (ago) and bonito. It uses soft, fluffy noodles characteristic of Hakata Udon. Rehydration time is 7 minutes.

▲Nissin Donbei Tempura Soba Annual Dashi Comparison Shinshu

The "Shinshu" variety pairs a dark-colored soup base, rich with dark soy sauce and bonito flavor, with thick-cut, chewy soba noodles, inspired by handmade soba.

▲Nissin Donbei Kitsune Udon Annual Dashi Comparison East / West

▲Nissin Donbei Tempura Soba Annual Dashi Comparison East / West

The Eastern Kitsune Udon and Tempura Soba feature a rich, savory soup base made with a double dashi of bonito and soda bonito, paired with firm, chewy noodles. The Western varieties, conversely, use a double dashi of bonito and kelp, characterized by a deeply flavorful soup base and smooth noodles.

The regular Eastern and Western products were renewed in September this year, with the new addition of "Honkarebushi" (premium dried bonito flakes) powder. Furthermore, the packaging for all six products features "Don Kitsune," played by Riho Yoshioka, with different expressions and lines that convey the unique characteristics of each dashi.

Hakata Features Soft Udon, Shinshu Boasts Thick-Cut Soba!

This combination of six products isn't entirely new. In October 2024, Nissin released six products under the "Nissin Kiki Donbei" (Nissin's Donbei Tasting) lineup, which also included "Hakata" and "Shinshu" alongside the Eastern and Western udon and soba.

What's exciting again this time are the "Hakata" and "Shinshu" varieties, which stand apart from the regular lineup. The "Hakata" with its soft noodles and the "Shinshu" with its satisfyingly chewy, thick-cut soba are truly unique to this special series.

With all six products (!!) making an appearance, I'm eager to savor the differences in flavor and noodles compared to the Donbei I usually enjoy!

All prices in the article include tax.

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