This is the Baixiang Super Fragrant Coriander Noodles, released in May 2023, in response to the rising popularity of coriander-flavoured products in China. The release was a collaboration between the noodle maker and Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok.
The instant noodles boasted the equivalent of five whole coriander plants, incorporating the herb’s juice into the noodles themselves and featuring freeze-dried whole coriander.
Each bowl included a noodle cake, a sauce sachet, and two sachets of coriander. To prepare, the noodles were soaked in boiling water for 2 minutes, loosened, then combined with the sauce and soaked for an additional 4 minutes before adding the freeze-dried coriander just prior to serving.
The resulting bowl had a rich aroma reminiscent of soy-braised beef broth. The visually-striking green-hued noodles, infused with coriander and spinach juice, offered a mild coriander flavour with an al dente texture and only a slight vegetal note, tasting much like regular instant noodles or spinach pasta. The generous freeze-dried coriander rehydrated to deliver a flavour and texture identical to fresh coriander, complete with its characteristic citrusy sharpness. The soft curl of the noodles effectively absorbed the broth, which was a spicy soy-braised beef flavour with a rich, beefy depth similar to Tongyi’s The King of Tomato Beef Noodles. The broth had a pleasant level of spiciness, allowing the beefy flavour and coriander to shine through without overpowering the dish. Overall, the noodles had a restaurant-quality feel and were worth repurchasing.
These Baixiang Super Fragrant Coriander Noodles contained 200g (115g of sauce and vegetable packs + 85g of noodles). They were produced in China and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2024.