A Definitive Ranking Of Indomie Noodles Flavours
As a Nigerian, there are several unifying factors which make us feel like part of the larger group that is Nigeria. One thing you’ll be unable to argue about, however, is our collective love for Indomie.
Indomie Instant Noodles – or simply, Indomie – is a household brand in both Lagos and the nation at large. The noodle brand was originally produced by an Indonesian company; Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk, simply called Indofood.
Did you know that the word ‘Indomie’ literally means ‘Indonesian noodles’? Indomie is distributed in numerous countries and continents across the world including Australia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Currently produced under Dufil Prima Foods, the noodle brand was introduced to Nigeria in 1988, with the first flavour to hit the market being the chicken flavour noodles. There are over 30 flavours of Indomie Instant Noodles. Sadly, there are less than 10 flavours available in Nigeria.
Today, I’ll be ranking some of the most interesting noodle flavours to have hit the Nigerian market. The ranking will be in ascending order -- from my worst to my best -- and per usual, I’ll be highlighting what I personally loved -- or absolutely despised -- about each flavour. Here goes!
Indomie Jollof (Discontinued)
If you were born before 2008, chances are if you search the deepest trenches of your memory, you’ll remember this discontinued flavour.
Indofood or Dufil– if we’re keeping it technical – decided to see if the Nigerian love for our trademark spicy and delectable Jollof rice could be witnessed in noodles. Sadly, all expectations fell short as the reception to this flavour was very poor. Why? The flavour was awful.
For those who can remember its taste, Indomie Jollof tasted like the classic chicken flavour mixed with watered down stew. You know, the kind of stew your boarding school gives you because they’re trying to pinch funds here and there. No wonder it disappeared from shelves as soon as it hit the shelves.
Indomie Relish
Image credit: Indomie Noodles NG
The purpose of these products is pretty obvious. They were designed to give consumers a combination of their favourite noodle brand accompanied by popular garnishes for an interesting bargain.
Imagine cooking a pack of noodles and that pack contains chunks of fish, sausage or chicken, as opposed to buying and preparing these separately. Doesn’t that sound like bliss? Sadly, just like Indomie Jollof, both Indomie Relish flavours fall short of expectations and I’ll tell you why.
Nigerian food brands are yet to perfect the concept of freeze-dried foods. In both flavours, the chicken/sausage chunks and the beef chunks taste horribly plastic. You know when you were younger and you bit into your Barbie/Bratz dolls? That weird texture? Yeah, that’s the texture.
Indomie Chicken Pepper Soup
Just like Indomie Jollof, the Indomie Chicken Pepper Soup Flavor is another noodle flavour which experiments on the love Nigerians have for spicy food items; particularly pepper.
The overall idea behind the Chicken Pepper Soup Flavor is to consume the noodles with a bit of soup/broth. Sadly, whether you prepare this variety of Indomie dry or not, it still falls short of expectations. Why? It’s nearly not as spicy as it’s hyped up to be. If I’m eating a combination of noodles and pepper soup, I’d want the tell-tale signs of good pepper soup to show; watery eyes, a runny nose, all that.
This simply doesn’t make the cut. You could feed this to a baby and they wouldn’t feel anything. I’m not saying I did, and I’m not saying you should. Don’t be evil.
Indomie Oriental Fried Noodles
Indomie Oriental Fried Noodles is a nod to classic Oriental cuisine. Typically, these foods are rich and spicy, chock full of meats, vegetables and all sorts of garnishing and condiments. While the Indomie Oriental Fried Noodles do not contain any meat chunks like both Relish flavours, they do contain dried vegetables -- sort of.
The Indomie Oriental Fried Noodles are often touted as a ‘healthier’ version of the instant noodle brand, given to the fact that, much like the Relish flavours, contain bits of vegetables. While these vegetables are not pronounced, you really can’t ignore the fact that they’re there. Whether they serve any nutritional value or not is up for debate.
Now, the Oriental Fried Noodles is not a bad flavour. It’s even enjoyable. I personally just wish it would do away with the weird tasting orange bits posing as carrots.
Indomie Chicken
The Indomie Chicken Flavor is the real game changer. This was the first flavour of Indomie Instant Noodles to hit the market. Had it not been for its entrance into the Nigerian market in 1988, instant noodles of any brand may have taken a lot more time before properly infiltrating the market.
The Indomie Chicken Flavor is a classic. Some of our fondest childhood memories are tied to this flavour and some notable event around it. Chances are, this is the first flavour of noodles you ever tried and that sparked the love for Indomie you would have to fight in adulthood to secure your waistline.
The Indomie Chicken Flavor is the OG flavour of Indomie Instant Noodles. It’s spiced just right, smells absolutely delicious and forms the perfect base for all kinds of noodles experiments.
Indomie Onion Chicken
The Indomie Onion Chicken Flavor is instant noodles at its finest. Nothing incites happiness or joy like the sight of its familiar green packaging when you’re ravaged by hunger. Amongst all Indomie flavours come and gone, nothing compares to the sheer genius that is the Onion Chicken Flavor.
The Onion Chicken Flavor is the best variety of Indomie Instant Noodles and for many reasons; It smells great, tastes better and forms an even more flavourful base for any variety of noodle experiments you can think of. The flavour is always impact. You’d have to be colossally terrible to mess up cooking a pack of Onion Chicken. Whatever your reality may be, this was, is and will always be the best flavour of Indomie Instant Noodles to grace the Nigerian Market.
Do you agree with our picks? Share your Indomie hot takes with us in the comments section.