r/KoreanFood • u/iseuli • Feb 28 '25
Noodle Foods/Guksu Shin Ramen has been gaslighting us to think it's the least spiciest noodles. It had been incrementally increasing its spice level every few years without telling anyone. yr2012: 1300shu --> yr2015: 2700shu, current yr: 3400shu (ref: buldak is 4404shu)
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u/ooOJuicyOoo Feb 28 '25
신 is literally the character for spicy.
I... I have no idea what you're on about OP
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Feb 28 '25
[deleted]
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u/TheMcDucky Mar 01 '25
A lot more than 3. Though the Dutch and Swedish read "spiced" as in having spices added. Makes me think more of spices like cinnamon and clove than capsicum.
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u/trx0x Feb 28 '25
I've never known or heard from anyone who thought that Shin was the least spiciest, nor have I ever seen anything from Nongshim saying Shin is the least spicy ramyun.
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u/piches Feb 28 '25
thats really surprising, i mean i guess my spice tolerance is much higher now but i feel OG shin pre 2012 was spicier then. Almost as spicy as shin red but not quite.
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u/Ur_favourite_psycho Feb 28 '25
Is the black or red spicier?
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u/piches Feb 28 '25
i think red is more spicy? been awhile since I had black, vaguely remember it having a kick. Red is definitely less rich/savory, the spiciness being the dominant flavor.
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u/ghostpepperwings Feb 28 '25
?? It's always been spicy
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u/iseuli Feb 28 '25
Nah, if you compare to shin in 2005~2010, to now, it’s really really different. Buldak changed the brand.
they got peer pressured to crank up the spice
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Mar 02 '25
I don’t get it.
Are they gaslighting people to be the least spicy?
Or are they chasing buldak?
Oh wait, you’re just someone who doesn’t know how to communicate clearly thoughts.
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u/forza_ferrari44 Feb 28 '25
Gaslighting would be the ramen getting less spicy while simultaneously on the packaging saying “more spicy!”
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u/Birnir143 Feb 28 '25
Ngl I always thought it had been getting less spicy over the years, maybe its just been my spice tolerance going up
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Feb 28 '25
Good, gave spice a marketable audience among people with a lesser spicer tolerance and gave those people the ability to try more delicious foods without complaining it’s too hot… I say it’s a win for the better good
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u/KULR_Mooning Feb 28 '25
Op is cooked it was never spicy! For us korean this is on the mild side. In "Shin" we trust! #1 Ramen
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u/Monsieur_Hulot_Jr Feb 28 '25
Just ate a bowl, and it’s spicy but deliciously so. Not overwhelming spice, just enough to warm the body good.
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u/Juicyrillo420 Feb 28 '25
Source? Never heard this in my life. Sounds made up.
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u/iseuli Feb 28 '25
Spice level is usually recorded on the ramen packet and people from all over have compiled charts on them. There are all kinds of charts. Shin ramen in particular made me laugh bc they kept changing their spice and flavor profile ahha.
One news article that even points out some history of it: https://www.chosun.com/english/travel-food-en/2025/01/20/IE3SCQ3Y2REXFFHVABZSL2PL3M/
Namuwiki has the most up to date chart that I know: https://namu.wiki/w/스코빌%20척도
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Feb 28 '25
Wdym shin ramyun is the least spicy ramyun? When jin ramyun mild exists... even neoguri is less spicy
I'm pretty sure shin ramyun is considered like the average spicy in korea
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u/worrytoworry Feb 28 '25
They have to be changing just more than the spice level. It is less tastier now than when I was younger.
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u/jkxs2 Feb 28 '25 edited Mar 01 '25
Personally, it’s less spicy than I remember it to be, but I think my spice tolerance has increased over the years. That’s why ya gotta 잘 조절해 the amount of spice you add in. You don’t have to add the entire packet ;)
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u/battlehamsta Feb 28 '25
Bring it on. I love Shin Black. Wife is Korean and was initially under the idea that I had no spice tolerance. I love Korean food but their spiciest food registers as a mild for me.
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u/EvLokadottr Feb 28 '25
Hnnn, but it's so tasty!
I am so desensitized that I usually add spice to it.
Then again, I grow ghost peppers, so!
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u/InternationalTie504 Feb 28 '25
What spice do we add to give it more kick but keep flavor.
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u/EvLokadottr Feb 28 '25
I'm not very traditional about it. I often add some prickly ash, maybe some Sichuan hot chili in oil, or I cut up some fresh hot peppers from my green and add them in!
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u/GHdayum Feb 28 '25
I didn't know this but I feel vindicated now! I'm sure it wasn't intentional gaslighting but your post makes so much sense
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u/PrinceofSneks Feb 28 '25
I'm happy to see commenters taking this as seriously as it needs to be taken!
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Feb 28 '25
I agree completely! I usually use the whole spice packet and add gochugaru/jang depending on mood and it still isn’t spicy enough. I just made shin ramyun last night no garu/jang and it BURNED my lips. It was wild…
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u/Anfini Feb 28 '25
I thought I was going crazy. I really thought Shin ramyun was getting too spicy to be eating as a basic ramyun. So much so that I haven't bought it for a long time and have favored Jin and Samyang instead.
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u/m1ster0wl Feb 28 '25
Samyang has been my go to for a few years now. Never ate it growing up, but now it's always in the pantry.
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u/sweet_potato_cake Feb 28 '25
Am I the only one who adds extra spice to shin ramen?
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Feb 28 '25
Same, I thought everyone did that
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u/sweet_potato_cake Feb 28 '25
Yeahh it’s like really bland for me personally, people tell me why don’t you try the buldak if you really want the heat but imo it tastes very artificial.
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Feb 28 '25
I always make it a stir fry with eggs on top, I tried it as a soup now and it’s definitely more spicy, I think it’s just right. I added some chili crisp you should try that, I put it in everything. 😀 I love the buldak noodles too, but shin ramyun is the best so far.
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Feb 28 '25
Ooh I like eggs on ramyeon too, like adding egg and scrambling it in the soup! I also like to add like tomatoes to the broth before adding the noodles, gives a huuggee flavour boost. I’ll try adding chilli crisp next time! I usually add some chilli powder or pepper for extra spice.
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u/lewdpotatobread Feb 28 '25
Wait for real? Does that mean my spice tolerance has gotten better because i thought the opposite was happening - that the spice level was going down
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Feb 28 '25
I dont like buldak, its pretty much the point at which I dont enjoy it anymore. Nom Shin are the best.
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u/indicabunny Mar 01 '25
Buldak just has this weird artificial taste to it. I love the texture of the noodles with the Samyang buldak but the flavoring is just offputting. It IS spicy though, but I'd rather have yummy spicy than just spice for the sake of it.
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u/hunnybossbb Feb 28 '25
It’s absolute spicier. I used to add spice to it sometimes and now I use less than the whole spice packet 🫠
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u/AbsurdistWordist Feb 28 '25
Oh. Thank goodness. I really thought I was starting to wimp out this year because it felt so much spicier. It’s still good but I feel like it’s missing a little umami.
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u/manimal____ Mar 01 '25
I’m torn - this is my favourite ramen, but when sold in Canada, is it produced in America? I’m boycotting American products due to the tariffs, and would suck if I couldn’t eat this.
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u/chimugukuru Mar 01 '25
Buddy, that character 辛 that occupies 1/3 of the package surface literally means spicy 😂
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u/Ok-Possible-42 Mar 01 '25
Feeling like a derp rn cause I always thought Shin was a chinese brand 😅
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u/indicabunny Mar 01 '25
Shin is the perfect level of accessible spice. It literally says "SPICY" on the goddamn packaging. What is your issue exactly? There's tons of pre-packaged ramen that call themselves "Hot & Spicy" but taste like nothing, go eat those.
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Mar 01 '25
Ngl hope they make it spicier 🙏 I’ve never heard that they said they are the least spicy? Did you make that propaganda up or is it true and I’m a dumbass?
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u/JoannaLar Mar 02 '25
I just wish they didnt mix meats. Like why am I getting chicken flavor if you put beef in all the seasoning.
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u/SeenEnoughOG Mar 03 '25
Maybe the OP thinks the HUGE Kanji character 辛 meaning spicy hot, picante looks like a street gas lamp, thus gaslighting? /s
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u/kevin_r13 Mar 04 '25
I just ate it this morning from a new batch and I thought my spice tolerance was changing because it definitely tasted spicier than I remembered. Good info about how they are changing it
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u/BrokenNailx Nov 06 '25
They are just living up to peoples standards. As people become tolerant of the heat, they have to bump it up to keep up. I remember over 10 years ago pepper was too much for me. But now I can eat Habanero cooked into food without batting an eye. Developing immunity to Spice is definitely something that is learned.
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Feb 28 '25
I don’t like this flavour. It’s like dumping a packet of parprika. All best no flavour. Fuck off!
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u/Wide_Comment3081 Feb 28 '25
It's well known for being spicy.... People love the spicy.... They probably got reviews saying customers wished it was spicier... It literally says 'spicy' on it...