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The Very Best Korean Rameyon

Ramyeon (Korean noodles) are popular throughout Asia. The best Korean rameyon are usually eaten cold, and they are served in a variety of ways. Ramyeon comes in many shapes, sizes, and flavours. Most ramyeons contain wheat flour, water, salt, and sometimes sugar. Some varieties include egg yolks, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and other ingredients. When you buy ramyeon, look for ones which are low in sodium content.

Sodium is a mineral found in table salt, and it increases blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and even death. A typical bowl of ramyeon contains about 100 calories. You can eat ramyeon alone, or you can add vegetables, meat, seafood, eggs, cheese, or nuts. You can find ramyeon in convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and online. Many types of ramyeon are available, and they come in different colours. You can choose from white, brown, red, green, yellow, black, purple, and orange.

A History Of Korean Rameyon

Korea is famous for its delicious food, and it is home to many restaurants that serve traditional Korean dishes. Ramyeons (or rice cakes) are a popular snack food that originated in Korea. They were originally called japchae, which is a type of noodle dish. Japchae became popular in the late 19th century, and it spread throughout Korea. Ramyeons were invented in the 1930s, and they quickly became very popular. Today, ramyeons are sold everywhere in South Korea. They are eaten as snacks, and they are served as a side dish with meals. They are usually eaten cold, and they are sometimes mixed with other ingredients.

They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and they are available in sweet or savoury flavours. Most Koreans prefer savoury ramyeons, and they eat them more frequently than sweet ones. Sweet ramyeons are less common, but they are becoming increasingly popular. Ramyeons are made from glutinous rice flour, and they are cooked until they become firm. They are then cut into pieces, and they are dried in the sun. The resulting product looks similar to brown sugar. They are traditionally shaped into round balls, but they can also be square or triangular. They are commonly eaten with tea, coffee, milk, or water. They are also served as appetizers, desserts, or snacks. They are especially popular as a dessert after dinner. They are often served with ice cream, fruit, nuts, honey, or chocolate sauce. They are also eaten with alcohol, and they are even served with beer. They are a staple food in South Korea, and they are enjoyed by everyone.

History of Korean Rameyons

The earliest records of ramyeons date back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). During this period, King Taejo ordered that ramyeons be produced in large quantities. These were called chamjang, and they were made from wheat flour instead of rice flour. They were baked in small clay pots, and they resembled the shape of a bowl. They were called chamjangs, and they were eaten with drinks such as sotongju (soju), gomtang (ginseng liquor), and bibimbap (rice porridge).

Chamjangs were also eaten as a snack between meals. They were eaten with black pepper, salt, soy sauce, and garlic. They were also eaten with vegetables like cabbage, radish, cucumber, and carrot. They were also eaten along with meat, fish, eggs, and cheese. They were also eaten as a side dish with soup, stew, and stews. They were also eaten in combination with noodles. They were eaten with rice, bread, pancakes, or steamed dumplings. They were also eaten at room temperature, and they were stored in airtight containers. They were also eaten frozen.

Ramyeons were introduced to North Korea in the 1980s. They were brought over by defectors, and they were smuggled across the border. They were initially known as “North Korean ramyeons”, but they were later renamed “ramyeon”. They were manufactured in factories near the Chinese border, and they were exported to China. In 2008, North Korea began exporting ramyeons directly to China. The country produces about 2 million tonnes of ramyeons annually. Some of these products are sold under the brand name “Jinrok”. Jinrok is a portmanteau of the words “jin” (“south”) and “rok” (“cake”). The first factory opened in 2009, and it is located in Pyongyang. It makes both sweet and savoury ramyeon. There are also factories in Hamhung, Hwanggumpyung, Sinuiju, Kaesŏng, P’yongyang, Sariwŏn, Chŏllim, Hyesan, Wihwa, Nampo, Chongp’yŏng, Ryomyŏng, Kanggye, Taebaek, Hoeryŏng, Kapsan, and Anbyŏng.

In South Korea, ramyeons are most popular in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan, and Jeollabuk-do. They are also popular in Gyeongsangnam-do, Gangwon-do, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeonggi, and Jeju. They are not as popular in North Korea, although some people still enjoy eating them. In South Korea, ramyeon is considered a national dish. It is one of the most popular foods in the country, and it is consumed by almost every family. Many people consider ramyeon to be the best food in the world.

Production Process

Rice flour is ground into fine powder, and it is mixed with hot water. The mixture is kneaded until it becomes soft, and it is left to stand for 30 minutes. Then, it is placed in an oven heated to 150°C (300°F). After 15 minutes, the dough is removed from the oven, and it is rolled out into flat sheets. The sheets are stacked up, and they are pressed together. The stack is then placed in an oven heated at 200°C (400°F) for 10 minutes. The process is repeated once again. The final result is a thin sheet of dough that resembles paper. It is then cut into desired shapes. The finished products are then dried in the sun for two days. They are then packed in plastic bags and sent to stores.

Ingredients

Glutinous rice flour is the main ingredient in ramyeons. Rice flour is made from finely milled white rice, and it contains starch. Glutinous rice flour is sticky when wet, and it absorbs moisture easily. When it dries, it turns into a solid substance. It is therefore suitable for making ramyeons. Wheat flour is added to make the dough softer. Water is added to increase the volume of the dough. Sugar is added so that the taste of the finished product is sweeter. Salt is added to improve flavour. Yeast is added so that the dough will rise during baking. Baking soda is added to improve the colour of the final product. Cornstarch is added to prevent the dough from sticking to the pan. Aromatic spices are added to enhance the aroma of the finished product.

Flavours

There are various types of flavoured ramyeons. Savoury ramyeons have strong tastes, and they contain lots of seasoning. They include spicy red pepper flakes, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, scallions, green onions, cilantro, parsley, basil, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, coriander seeds, star anise, allspice, cardamom, fennel, saffron, turmeric, and onion. Sweet ramyeons have milder flavours, and they contain vanilla extract, caramelized sugar, almond extract, coconut extract, custard powder, lemon juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, strawberry jam, banana puree, apple puree, mango pure

What Makes Rameyon Different From Other Noodles?

There is a lot of misunderstanding regarding ramen, ramyun, and their distinctions. I’d like to quickly clear this up before continuing. The main distinction is that whereas ramyun (often romanized as ramyeon) is a Korean meal, ramen normally refers to the Japanese cuisine.

But there is also another significant distinction. Ramyun is typically instant. Instant noodles known as “Korean ramyun” are designed to be consumed as a quick and simple snack. However, Japanese ramen is historically not a fast cuisine and requires a lot of preparation time (although there are instant ramen variants too).

The flavour, though, may be where the differences are most noticeable. Red pepper, a common ingredient in Korean cuisine, is used in most Korean ramyun. This results in the signature crimson colour found in most Korean ramyun and Korean cuisine in general.

Despite the fact that the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, these two items serve quite different functions and have different flavours. Even though it seems petty, it’s important to distinguish between the two.

How about instant noodles then? Ramyun is known in English as quick noodles. There is therefore little difference between saying Korean quick noodles or Korean ramyun. After that, let’s examine what makes Korean ramyun so unique.

Korean ramyun stands out from all other varieties of ramyun in one important way.

The majority of ramyun uses red pepper as its primary ingredient. There are several exceptions to this rule (not all Korean ramyun is that colour red! ), but the majority of the dish is red-pepper based.

Generally speaking, the taste of red pepper is what distinguishes Korean ramyun from other ramyuns. In addition to giving the dish a distinctive flavour, the pepper also adds some heat, which is another well-known feature of South Korean ramyun!

Best Korean Rameyon

There isn’t just one kind of Korean ramyun that is best. Everybody has various tastes, and Korea has a wide variety of ramyun to suit them all. Having said that, certain varieties of ramyun are more well-liked than others.

These are the ramyun variations I’ve found to be the most delicious while living in South Korea.

1. Shin Ramyun – 신라면

The delectable, flavorful instant noodles known as Shin Ramyun are well-known throughout the world. It’s also quite simple to take up practically everywhere in the world because of its fame.

Although Shin ramyun has some heat, it is not among the spicier ramyuns on this list. However, this can seem fairly spicy if you are extremely sensitive to heat or are not used to Korean ramyun. Shin ramyun also has a very distinctive flavour, which is probably a result of its unusual for ramyun beef-stock foundation.

Additionally, there are small chunks of freeze-dried meat and veggies inside the cup or box. Although they aren’t particularly noteworthy, they do give the dish a pleasant extra flavour.

You should also look for Shin Ramyun Black, which is also referred to as “premium,” if you want even finer taste. Instead of red, this ramyun’s wrapper is black, and another packet of beef-stock flavouring is also included. Additionally, it costs 50% more in Korea, which is a huge price increase.

Spice level: 3/5

Taste: 4/5

Availability: Worldwide

2. Paldo Kokomen – 꼬꼬면

Another soup-based ramyun is Paldo Kokomen, however it stands out from the others on this list because it has a “light” flavour to the chicken. Kokomen is an excellent option if you want a ramyun with a milder, less spicy, or chicken flavour.

Although the package describes this ramyun as “clear and spicy,” I found it to be slightly less spicy than Shin and Jin Red Ramyun. The freeze-dried flavour packet that comes with Kokomen contains bits of shredded chicken, green onion, seaweed, and chilli. Kokomen Ramyun is a fantastic choice when you want something that is still tasty but has a more neutral flavour because it also has a less overpowering flavour compared to the other ramyuns on this list.

As a side dish for a dinner that you don’t want to overpower, this ramyun works fantastically. When I’m eating ramyun with other dishes, I favour Paldo Kokomen Chicken instant noodles instead of other (stronger-tasting) ramyuns for snacks.

Spice Level: 2/5

Taste: 4/5;

Availability: Common In Korea

3. Jin Ramyun – 진라면

Another well-known ramyun brand in Korea is Jin Ramyun. However, despite being extremely well-liked within the nation, it hasn’t yet attained Shin Ramyun’s extremely high levels of fame.

As both Jin Ramyun and Shin Ramyun are made using beef, their flavours are extremely similar (although, it has a less strong beef flavour). Additionally, compared to Shin Ramyun, which relies more on the taste of beef, Jin Ramyun has a greater kimchi/pepper flavour.

Additionally, the Jin Ramyun boxes include a package of freeze-dried vegetables, which give the snack a little extra flavour and texture. It’s also important to note that the ramyun noodles themselves are solid and maintain the ideal consistency throughout the entire eating process.

The standard edition of Jin Ramyun comes in blue. In terms of spiciness, the red variant, which is also available, rates a 3/5. (the spicy version is similar to Shin ramyun in terms of spice). In Korea, there are a few additional renditions of Jin Ramyun, including Jin-Jjambbong (Jin Ramyun with a seafood base).

Spice Level: 2/5

Taste: 4/5;

Availability: Worldwide

4. Jin Jjambbong – 진짬뽕

Another well-known ramyun brand in Korea is Jin Ramyun. However, despite being extremely well-liked within the nation, it hasn’t yet attained Shin Ramyun’s extremely high levels of fame.

As both Jin Ramyun and Shin Ramyun are made using beef, their flavours are extremely similar (although, it has a less strong beef flavour). Additionally, compared to Shin Ramyun, which relies more on the taste of beef, Jin Ramyun has a greater kimchi/pepper flavour.

Additionally, the Jin Ramyun boxes include a package of freeze-dried vegetables, which give the snack a little extra flavour and texture. It’s also important to note that the ramyun noodles themselves are solid and maintain the ideal consistency throughout the entire eating process.

The standard edition of Jin Ramyun comes in blue. In terms of spiciness, the red variant, which is also available, rates a 3/5. (the spicy version is similar to Shin ramyun in terms of spice). In Korea, there are a few additional renditions of Jin Ramyun, including Jin-Jjambbong (Jin Ramyun with a seafood base).

Spice Level: 4/5

Taste: 4/5;

Availability: Worldwide

5. Chamgae Ramyun – 참깨라면

The flavour of this ramyun, which is made with egg and sesame, is unlike any other ramyun I’ve ever had.

Although this ramyun is based on pepper oil, it is not hot. In fact, when eating it, I didn’t really taste much spice. This can be as a result of the dried egg fragment in the ramyun. Egg is excellent at balancing spice, so possibly this is the case here.

As the ramyun does come with a sachet of pepper oil, anticipate an oily texture. It does seem oily, but I didn’t find it to be overpowering. The first thing you will taste in the ramyun when you eat it is a very strong sesame flavour.

The noodles are slightly thinner than most other ramyuns on our list and have a consistency that is soft on the outside and chewy on the inside (if they are cooked properly). As a result, if left sitting, the noodles will become mushy more quickly.

Spice Level: 2/5

Taste: 5/5;

Availability: Worldwide

In conclusion, Korean ramyons are incredibly versatile. They can be used in a variety of dishes, from soups to salads to stir fries. In fact, they’re often considered the perfect accompaniment to almost anything. That said, they’re especially great for breakfast because they add a nice kick to your morning meal without weighing you down.

James Yeong
James Yeong

Once a quaint dweller of the English countryside, James is now a vibrant voice narrating his adventures in the bustling heart of South Korea. Since relocating to Seoul in 2019, James has immersed himself in the dynamic tapestry of Korean culture, from the serene temples tucked away in mountainous terrains to the neon-lit streets of modern cities.

This blog has become a haven for those seeking an outsider's yet intimate perspective on South Korea, often shedding light on hidden gems and local favourites rather than just the typical tourist hotspots. With a keen eye for detail and a writing style dripping with wit and warmth, James has managed to amass a devoted readership from all corners of the globe.

Whether you're planning a trip to the Seoul, the surrounding cities or just vicariously traveling from the comfort of your couch, Jame's tales of exploration and discovery are sure to ignite a passion for the Land of the Morning Calm.

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