Lucas Delgado
Samyang's Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 2x Spicy is a vegan instant noodle product from South Korea. It is one of the spiciest instant noodles available in the South Korean market, with the original packet having 4,404 Scoville units. The product's popularity surged when the Fire Noodle Challenge went viral on YouTube, with people filming themselves eating the noodles as fast as they could. The challenge led to a surge in the noodle's popularity and sales, with Samyang Foods receiving the '100 Million Dollar Export Tower' award in 2017. The product has received mixed reviews, with some customers finding it too spicy and overpriced, while others enjoy the spicy flavor and find it tasty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Samyang Foods |
| Flavour | Hot Chicken |
| Spice Level | 2x Spicy |
| Weight | 140g |
| Vegan/Vegetarian | Yes |
| Scoville Units | 4,404 |
| Preparation Style | Stir-fry or Soupy |
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What You'll Learn
- Samyang Foods' Buldak Ramen is one of the spiciest instant noodles in South Korea
- The popularity of Buldak Ramen surged when the Fire Noodle Challenge went viral on YouTube
- The original Buldak Ramen has 4,404 Scoville units
- Samyang Foods received the '100 Million Dollar Export Tower' award in 2017
- The product is vegan and vegetarian-friendly
Samyang Foods' Buldak Ramen is one of the spiciest instant noodles in South Korea
The Buldak Ramen series was first launched in April 2012 and is Samyang's best-selling product. It was inspired by a spicy chicken stir-fry dish that Kim Jung-soo, a member of Samyang Foods' sales department, observed while eating lunch at a restaurant in 2010. Kim recalled that the dish made the customers "sweat and fan their tongues, assailed by both pleasure and pain." When Samyang's food scientists created prototypes for the ramen, they were repeatedly told to make it spicier.
The product became famous in South Korea, and its popularity led to Samyang releasing new varieties that differ in spice and flavour from the original to keep up with demand. In 2016, when Buldak-bokkeummyeon began to be sold in earnest, Samyang Foods' sales grew 23.5% to 359.3 billion won, followed by a double-digit growth rate in 2017 with sales of 450 billion won. For this reason, Samyang Foods received the '100 Million Dollar Export Tower' at the "54th Trade Day 2017" event.
The Buldak Ramen series includes the original Buldak Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen, the Curry Buldak Bokkeummyun (a curry-flavoured variety not sold in Korea), and the Hack Buldak Bokkeummyun (2X spicy Hot Chicken flavor Ramen). The noodles are easy to cook, and the Buldak range has become very popular in South Korea and overseas.
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The popularity of Buldak Ramen surged when the Fire Noodle Challenge went viral on YouTube
Buldak Ramen, a South Korean brand of instant noodles, is considered one of the spiciest noodle options available in the market. The original packet has 4,404 Scoville units. It was first launched in April 2012 by Samyang Foods and quickly became their best-selling product, with 4 billion sales by August 2022. The idea for this product came from a spicy chicken stir-fry dish that Kim Jung-soo, a member of Samyang Foods' sales team, observed in a restaurant in 2010. Kim recalled that the dish had the customers "sweating and fanning their tongues, assailed by both pleasure and pain".
The popularity of Buldak Ramen skyrocketed when the "Fire Noodle Challenge" went viral on YouTube. The challenge was started by the YouTube channel "Korean Englishman" in 2014, where the host Josh Carrott challenged his friends in the UK to see who could finish the noodles the fastest without drinking any water. The popularity of the video inspired other YouTubers worldwide to take up the challenge, leading to a surge in the noodle's popularity. There are now over a million videos on YouTube of people attempting the challenge.
The Fire Noodle Challenge involves eating a package of Buldak Ramen as quickly as possible. The noodles are known for their intense spiciness, and the challenge is designed to test how well participants can handle the heat. The spiciness of the noodles is so intense that it can cause physical reactions such as sweating, tearing, and a burning sensation in the mouth.
The success of the Fire Noodle Challenge has had a significant impact on the sales and popularity of Buldak Ramen. It has helped establish Samyang Foods as a prominent brand in the instant noodle market, especially among spicy food enthusiasts. The challenge has also contributed to the expansion of the Buldak Ramen brand, with Samyang introducing new varieties that differ in spice levels and flavours to cater to diverse consumer preferences.
In addition to the original Buldak Ramen, Samyang has released the Buldak Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen 2X Spicy, which offers an even spicier option for those who enjoy the heat. The brand has also launched the Curry Buldak Bokkeummyun (Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen Curry) and the Hack Buldak Bokkeummyun, which is twice as spicy as the original Buldak. These new varieties cater to a global audience, allowing consumers worldwide to experience the unique blend of "pleasure and pain" that has made Buldak Ramen a cultural phenomenon.
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The original Buldak Ramen has 4,404 Scoville units
Buldak Ramen is a South Korean brand of instant noodles produced by Samyang Foods since 2012. It is considered one of the spiciest instant noodles available in the South Korean market, with the original packet having 4,404 Scoville units. To put that into perspective, a single packet's capsaicin levels are so high that consumers are at risk of "acute poisoning", according to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. In fact, Denmark has prohibited the sale of the 3x Spicy variety of Buldak Ramen.
Scoville Heat Units (SHU) are a measure of the spiciness of chillies and chilli-related products, such as hot sauce. The scale is named after its creator, American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, who developed the test in 1912. The Scoville test involves measuring the concentration of capsaicinoids – the chemical compounds that give chillies their heat – in a given sample.
The original Buldak Ramen has 4,404 SHU, which is considered very spicy. For reference, jalapeño peppers typically range from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, while the popular cayenne pepper ranges from 30,000 to 50,000 SHU. The world's spiciest chillies, such as the Carolina Reaper, can reach over 2 million SHU.
The original Buldak Ramen's spiciness is further intensified by its high salt content, which can make it taste hotter than its Scoville rating would suggest. Salt enhances the perception of spiciness by exciting the nerve fibres that detect chilli heat. This is why the ramen has been known to cause sweating, tearing, and runny noses.
Despite its extreme spiciness, or perhaps because of it, Buldak Ramen has become a viral sensation and Samyang Foods' best-selling product. The "Fire Noodle Challenge", which involves filming oneself eating the noodles as quickly as possible, has spread across social media and caused a surge in the product's popularity.
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Samyang Foods received the '100 Million Dollar Export Tower' award in 2017
Samyang Foods' Buldak Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen is one of the spiciest instant noodles available in the South Korean market. The original packet has 4,404 Scoville units. The product became famous due to the Fire Noodle Challenge, a viral social media challenge where people filmed themselves eating the noodles. The "Korean Englishman" YouTube channel started this challenge in 2014, and it led to a surge in the popularity of the noodles worldwide.
Samyang Foods' best-selling product, Buldak Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen, was first launched in April 2012. It was inspired by a spicy chicken stir-fry dish that a member of Samyang Foods' sales department, Kim Jung-soo, observed while eating lunch at a restaurant in 2010. Kim recalled that the dish was so spicy that the customers were "sweating and fanning their tongues, assailed by both pleasure and pain". When Samyang's food scientists created prototypes for the ramen, she repeatedly told them to make it spicier.
In 2016, when Buldak-bokkeummyeon began to be sold, Samyang Foods' sales grew 23.5% to 359.3 billion won, followed by a double-digit growth rate in 2017 with estimated sales of 450 billion won. For this reason, Samyang Foods received the '100 Million Dollar Export Tower' award at the "54th Trade Day 2017" event. The company has now received the award five times, having previously won the $100 Million Export Tower award in 2017, the $200 Million Export Tower award in 2018, the $300 Million Export Tower award in 2021, and the $400 Million Export Tower award in 2022. The Export Tower is awarded to companies contributing to export growth, based on yearly export performance.
Samyang Foods has continued to grow, breaking its records every year due to the global popularity of its flagship export item, the "Buldak" brand. Exports, which were 93 billion won in 2016, jumped nearly nine times in seven years to 809.3 billion won in 2023. During the same period, exports also increased from 26% to 68%. In 2024, Samyang Foods became the first company in the industry to receive the '$700 Million Export Tower' award.
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The product is vegan and vegetarian-friendly
Samyang Buldak 2 x Spicy Hot Chicken Ramen is vegan and vegetarian-friendly. The product utilises artificial flavouring instead of animal products, making it suitable for those following a plant-based diet. This vegan and vegetarian option still delivers on the spiciness that Buldak ramen is known for. With 4,404 Scoville units, it is considered one of the spiciest instant noodles available in the Korean market. The high spice level has led to its popularity in social media challenges, such as the "Fire Noodle Challenge," where people film themselves eating the noodles.
The vegan and vegetarian-friendly version of Buldak ramen maintains the same preparation method as its non-vegetarian counterpart. The noodles are boiled, drained, and then mixed with a spicy sauce and toppings. The spicy sauce is what gives Buldak ramen its signature heat. The product has received mixed reviews, with some praising the taste and spiciness, while others find it too spicy or overpriced. However, it has gained a reputation as a challenging and exciting culinary experience for spice enthusiasts.
The creation of Buldak ramen was inspired by a spicy chicken stir-fry dish observed by Kim Jung-soo, a member of Samyang Foods' sales department. The original goal was to recreate the dish's balance of "pleasure and pain", and the company's food scientists were repeatedly instructed to make the prototype spicier. This emphasis on spice has resulted in a product that is not only popular in South Korea but has also gained a dedicated following worldwide.
The vegan and vegetarian-friendly Buldak ramen has contributed to the success of Samyang Foods. The company received the '100 Million Dollar Export Tower' award at the "54th Trade Day 2017" event, recognising their significant export achievements. The popularity of Buldak ramen has led to the creation of various spice levels and flavours, including the 2x spicy variety, catering to diverse consumer preferences. The success of the product demonstrates the demand for spicy instant noodles, not just in Korea but also in overseas markets.
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Frequently asked questions
Samyang's Buldak Hot Chicken Ramen 2x spicy is considered one of the spiciest instant noodles available in the South Korean market, with the original packet having 4,404 Scoville units.
Yes, the 2x spicy version of the ramen is vegan and vegetarian, utilising artificial flavouring rather than animal products.
The ramen can be prepared in a stir-fry style or as a soup. To make the stir-fry version, boil the noodles and flakes in 600ml of water for 5 minutes, drain the water (keeping 120ml), and stir-fry with the liquid soup for 30 seconds. Add the flakes and stir well before serving.
![[SAMYANG BULDARK] Korean Fire Noodle Challenge Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen Spicy Noodle Tteokbokki Rabokki Buldak Rabokki 삼양불닭 (Extremely Spicy Buldak Sauce)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51MrWL8MzcL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
