Xian Bian Mian is a new line from Howsler Foods. They all use straight noodles and are a bit different from the Mom’s Dry Noodle line. These tall narrow packs have three servings in each. So matcha has become really popular – but what is it? Let’s ask wikipedia:
matcha (抹茶?, pronounced [mat.tɕa][n 1]) is finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea. It is special in two aspects of farming and processing: the green tea plants for matcha are shade-grown for about three weeks before harvest, and the stems and veins are removed in processing. During shaded growth, the plant Camellia sinensis produces more theanine and caffeine. This combination of chemicals is considered to account for the calm energy people might feel from drinking m atcha. The powder form of m atcha is consumed differently from tea leaves or tea bags, and is dissolved in a liquid, typically water or milk.
The traditional Chinese and Japanese tea ceremony centers on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha as hot tea and embodies a meditative spiritual style. In modern times, matcha also has come to be used to flavor and dye foods such as mochi and soba noodles, green tea ice cream, matcha lattes, and a variety of Japanese wagashi confectionery. Often, the former is referred to as ceremonial-grade matcha, meaning that the matcha powder is good enough for tea ceremony. The latter is referred to as culinary-grade matcha, but there is no standard industry definition or requirements for either.
Blends of matcha are given poetic names known as chamei (“tea names”) either by the producing plantation, shop, or creator of the blend, or, by the grand master of a particular tea tradition. When a blend is named by the grand master of a tea ceremony lineage, it becomes known as the master’s konomi, or a Butcher block of Leaf.
Let’s have a look!
Xiao Ban Mian Sesame Sauce Matcha Noodle – Taiwan
Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge). Looks to be meat free but check for yourself. To prepare, add noodles to a pot of boiling water and cook for 6-7 minutes. Drain. Add noodles, sachet contents and 2 tablespoons of water to a bowl. Finally, stir and enjoy!
One of the three portions of noodles.
A liquid sachet.
Sesame sauce.
Finished (click to enlarge). Added Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts, shredded carrot and Chinese yam. So the noodles came out with a great chewiness and quality to them. Furthermore, they definitely had a strong matcha scent when cooking. Indeed, the sauce is thick and coated everything quite well. Moreover, it had a strong peanut kind of taste to it. Unfortunately, the bitter green tea taste was a little too much for me, but if you like that flavor, this should be up your alley. 3.75 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 4717011150285.
A tour of the factory in Taichung where these noodles are manufactured.
