Ramen rage: Anger in Taiwan over US instant noodles blogger
Staff Reporter 2013-07-12 16:38
Instant noodles at a convenience store in Taiwan. (Photo/China Times)
Hans Lienesch, an American known for rating different brands of ramen noodles, recently hurt the feelings of the people of Taiwan by omitting Taiwanese brands from his list of the world's top ten instant noodles. He has now compounded his sin by including two Taiwanese brands on his top ten of the worst noodles in the world, according to Taiwan-based news website ETtoday.
Lienesch's original omission angered many in Taiwan, who are very defensive of their ramen, leading more than 1,000 local internet users to vent their displeasure. They are now likely to be scratching their noodles for more ways to convey their fury.
On Lienesch's new list of the world's worst noodles on his Ramen Rater blog, the two Taiwanese brands are ranked 5th and 10th. Lienesch noted that Wei-Lih brand beef flavor instant noodles, ranked 10th, taste too salty and lack beef taste, while Nan Shing Hsinchu vegetarian rice noodles, ranked 5th, taste like spider web and its vegetables are too dry.
The manufacturer of the Nan Shing Hsinchu rice noodle brand refused to be upset about Lienesch's remarks, saying, "It doesn't matter. People have different opinions."
The two worst instant noodle brands in the world according to Lienesch, come from China, and came in for strong criticism for their smell, texture and condiments. Hints of urine and soil were detected by Lienesch's expert nose. Baijia Single Noble Rice Noodles, top of the list, are too sticky and the soup too oily — they taste yuck, he said.
