Noodle Journey Episode 125: Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen

This one is pretty interesting and is a flavor profile I’ve never tried before: Nissin Demae XO Sauce Seafood Flavor Ramen. XO sauce is a Cantonese condiment made from dried seafood cooked with chilies, onions, and garlic (and sometimes ham). The “XO” name comes from XO Cognac, which has been colloquially adopted in China as shorthand for luxury, despite there being no cognac in the sauce. Based on that, I’m expecting a funky, salty-sweet, very seafood-forward broth with a little heat and some oil for richness.

I paid $0.99 at my local Asian market, and this typically runs up to about $2 depending on the store. There’s also a bowl version out there that contains additional dried vegetables and crab stick that goes for around $3. Sodium is 1,300 mg. Inside the pack, we have a square noodle block, soup base built on powdered soy & seafood stock with thickeners and spices like MSG, chili pepper, white pepper, onion, garlic, and ginger, and finally a liquid XO sauce packet with shallot, chili, tangerine, and concentrated seafood extracts (clam, oyster, shrimp, fish sauce). Some regions seem to have a pork-extract variant, so doublecheck the label if you avoid pork.

Noodles:
Chewier and better than basic Nissin Cup Noodles, though still a little thinner than I normally like. Still, a good budget-friendly noodle.
• 7/10

Spiciness:
Pretty mild. The chili and white pepper give a little heat, but it isn’t overwhelming.
• 2/10

Overall:
The broth delivers a really interesting medley of seafood flavor. To my tastebuds, shrimp and clam are most noticeable, with a subtle anchovy/salty-fish umami undertone that shows up more in aroma than flavor. Onion rounds it all out, with a little sesame oil in the base adding some nuttiness and richness. The XO sauce packet brings depth and umami without turning the bowl muddy. The broth consistency is on the thinner side using the instructed 500ml of water; dialing the water back slightly would make the soup feel fuller. The flake presence is minimal in this packet (mostly green onion specks), whereas the bowl version’s extra vegetables and crab stick would likely push the experience up a notch. If you like seafood noodles, this hits the spot, but if seafood isn’t your thing, this is not for you.
• 7.5/10

Notes since filming:

Major bummer, but this variety seems to have been discontinued in both its pack and bowl forms. I don’t know of any other seafood ramen varieties that have this specific XO flavor. If this ever makes a comeback, hopefully Nissin doesn’t mess with the recipe!