Nongshim

About the brand

Nongshim is South Korea's largest instant noodle maker. The company was founded in Seoul in 1965 by Shin Choon-ho and has carried the name Nongshim ("farmer's heart") since 1978. Its best-known soup, Shin Ramyun, has been on the market since 1986 and is what most people picture when they think of Korean ramen; Neoguri (1982) and Chapagetti (1984) are a few years older.

What you will find from Nongshim

• Ramyun soups in packets — Shin, Shin Black, Shin Red Super, Neoguri (spicy and mild), Kimchi, Champong, Seafood, Tom Yum and more.
• Bowl and cup soups — a quick meal, just add hot water.
• Chapagetti — noodles with black bean sauce and no broth; plus Rapokki, tteok rice cakes with ramen noodles.
• Sweet potato glass noodles — for japchae, soups and salads.
• Coarse red pepper powder (gochugaru) — the basis of kimchi and Korean sauces.

How to prepare them

Packet ramyun cooks in boiling water with its seasoning for 4–5 minutes. It goes well with an egg, spring onion or a slice of cheese; a splash of milk softens the hotter varieties (Shin Red Super).