A taste test review of 'Cup Noodle 14 Spice Mala Tang,' which boasts a strong aroma of spices while keeping the numbing and spicy flavors to a minimum.
' Cup Noodle 14 Spice Mala Tang,' a Cup Noodle-style adaptation of 'Mala Tang,' a dish that has been popular since around 2024, was released on April 6th, 2026 (Monday), so I bought it and tried it.
Product Information for April 2026 Release | News Release | Nissin Foods Group
Cup Noodles 14 Spice Mala Tang | Nissin Foods Group
https://www.nissin.com/jp/product/items/13644/
The packaging design looks like this. The lid has a gorgeous design, and it comes with a separate packet of 'spice-flavored oil.'
The soup contains spices such as cardamom, other spices, nutmeg, and chili seasoning as ingredients. Each serving contains 344 kcal.
As soon as you open the lid, the fragrant aroma of star anise and other spices fills the air.
Pour in hot water and wait 3 minutes.
Add the spice-flavored oil.
This is what it looks like when mixed. As the name suggests, Mala Tang is characterized by the numbing spiciness of Sichuan peppercorns ('ma') and the burning spiciness of chili peppers ('la'), but it seems to have been adapted to be more palatable for a wider audience, as both the spiciness and the numbness are quite mild despite the aroma. The curly noodles, typical of Cup Noodles, hold the soup and ingredients well, but you won't choke even if you slurp them down, as the 'ma' is almost completely suppressed, and you only feel a slight 'la'. This means that even people who don't like spicy food can enjoy this as an introduction to Mala Tang. On the other hand, those who have experience with Mala Tang might want a stronger 'ma' sensation, so it would be nice to have Sichuan pepper oil in addition to the spice-flavored oil.
'Cup Noodle 14 Spice Mala Tang' is sold at a suggested retail price of 248 yen (excluding tax). On Amazon, a set of 12 is available for 2764 yen (including tax), which is 230 yen per cup.
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in Tasting, Posted by logc_nt