All About Marutai Kyushu Local Ramen! Must-Try Japanese Instant Ramen

Thursday, June 8, 2017

All About Marutai Kyushu Local Ramen! Must-Try Japanese Instant Ramen

Marutai is a Japanese company that makes instant ramen. The company was established in Fukuoka in 1947 and started selling Bou Ramen in 1959. Bou (棒) means stick in Japanese. While most instant ramen is wavy noodle block, the noodles of Marutai Bou Ramen are as straight as sticks. That's why this ramen is called Bou Ramen (棒ラーメン). Each Bou Ramen has two servings of instant noodles. These years, they've started selling Kyushu region series in Japan, and the series has been very popular there. By the way, Kyushu (九州) is the most southwesterly of four main islands of Japan.

Marutai Kyushu Local Ramen

My husband and I have finally tried all 8 kinds of Marutai Kyushu ramen! All of them were so authentic and delicious, and I thought that these are must-try Japanese instant ramen! If you are in Japan, you can find these Marutai ramen at Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ), which is also called Donki (ドンキ), one of the biggest Japanese discount chain stores in Japan. You might also find some flavor of this series at some supermarkets in Japan as well.

The series has four kinds of local tonkotsu ramen, two kinds of local shio ramen and two kinds of local soy sauce ramen. Today, I'm going to clarify deferences between all flavor of the Marutai Kyushu local ramen. (Next time, I'll share three my most favorite ramen from Marutai Kyushu Ramen Series with you.)

■4 Kinds of Local Tonkotsu Ramen
　Kurume (久留米) - Very Rich
　Hakata Nagahama (博多長浜) - Less Rich
　Kagoshima (鹿児島) - Browned Green Onion
　Kumamoto (熊本) - Browned Garlic

■2 Kinds of Local Shio Ramen
　Miyazaki (宮崎) - Chicken Based Soup
　Saga (佐賀) - Beef Based Soup

■2 Kinds of Local Soy Sauce Ramen
　 Oita (大分) - Chicken Based Soup with Yuzu Zest Powder
　Nagasaki (長崎) - Charcoal-Grilled Flying Fish Based Soup

■Marutai Tonkotsu Ramen (マルタイとんこつラーメン)

As you might know tonkotsu ramen is made of pork bone based soup. Marutai Kyushu ramen series has four kinds of local tonkotsu ramen, Kurume, Hakata Nagahama, Kagoshima and Kumamoto.

1. Kurume Noukou Tonkotsu Ramen (久留米濃厚とんこつラーメン)

Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen

According to Wikipedia, tonkotsu ramen originated in Kurume city (久留米市) in Fukuoka prefecture (福岡県). Our home town is pretty close to Kurume, and we've gone to ramen restaurants located in Kurume so many times since we were children. When you walk close to tonkotsu ramen restaurants in Kurume, you will definitely notice smell of pork-bone broth. Indeed, Kurume tonkotsu ramen tastes richer than other local tonkotsu ramen. (You might think it's too greasy.) By the way, noukou (濃厚) means rich in Japanese.

My blog entry related to Marutai Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen can be seen here.

2. Hakata Nagahama Tonkotsu Ramen (博多長浜とんこつラーメン)

Hakata Nagahama Tonkotsu Ramen

Hakata-ku (博多区) is a ward of Fukuoka city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. There are many tonkotsu ramen stalls around Nakasu (中州) in Hakta-ku. These are called Hakata Ramen. Nagahama (長浜) is located in Chuo-ku (中央区) in Fukuoka city. Even though Nagahama is not located in Hakata-ku, people sometimes call ramen in Nagahama "Hakata Nagahama ramen." Hakata Nagahama Tonkotsu Ramen is less greasy than Kurume one.

My blog entry related to Marutai Hakata Nagahama Tonkotsu Ramen can be seen here.

3. Kagoshima Kurobuta Tonkotsu Ramen (鹿児島黒豚とんこつラーメン焦がしねぎ入り)

Kagoshima Kurobuta Tonkotsu Ramen

Kagoshima prefecture (鹿児島県), where is famous for Kagoshima pork, which is called Kagoshima kurobuta (かごしま黒豚) in Japan. This ramen has browned green onions (焦がしねぎ) which add savory flavor to it.

My blog entry related to Marutai Kagoshima Kurobuta Tonkotsu Ramen can be seen here.

http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/2016/12/review-marutai-kagoshima-kurobuta.html

4. Kumamoto Kuro Mayu Tonkotsu Ramen (熊本黒マー油とんこつラーメン焦がしニンニク入り)

Kumamoto Kuro Mayu Tonkotsu Ramen

Kumamoto prefecture (熊本県) is pretty close to Kurume city. It takes less than an hour to get to Kumamoto prefecture from Kurume city by car. While Kurume tonkotsu ramen has rich pork bone based soup, Kumamoto tonkotsu ramen contains a large amount of garlic to reduce smell of strong pork bone. Kumamoto ramen has browned garlic (焦がしニンニク) and kuro mayu (黒マー油), which is black oil made from sesame oil and browned garlic.

My blog entry related to Marutai Kumamoto Tonkotsu Ramen can be seen here.

http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/2017/06/marutai-kumamoto-tonkotsu-ramen-with.html

■Marutai Shio Ramen (マルタイ塩ラーメン)

Shio (塩) means salt in Japanese. The soup of shio ramen is made of shio tare (塩だれ). Marutai Kyushu ramen series has two kinds of local shio ramen, Miyazaki and Saga.

1. Miyazaki Tori Shio Ramen (宮崎鶏塩ラーメン)

Miyazaki Tori Shio Ramen

Miyazaki (宮崎) is a prefecture located on the eastern coast of the island of Kyushu (九州). Tori (鶏) means chicken in Japanese. Miyazaki is famous for Miyazaki jidori (宮崎地鶏), local chicken raised in Miyazaki prefecture. The soup of Marutai Miyazaki Tori Shio Ramen contains Miyazaki jidori extract, pork oil, sesame oil and dried bonito flakes. It has umami flavor and not greasy at all.
　
My blog entry related to Marutai Miyazaki Tori Shio Ramen can be seen here.

2. Saga Gyu Shio Ramen (佐賀牛塩ラーメン)

Saga Gyu Shio Ramen

Gyu (牛) means beef in Japanese. Saga is famous for Saga Gyu (佐賀牛), Japanese black cattle, raised in Saga prefecture. The soup of this ramen is beef bone based soup. It also contains beef tallow and sesame oil. The soup is very flavorful.

My blog entry related to Marutai Saga Gyu Shio Ramen can be seen here.

http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/2017/04/marutai-saga-gyushio-ramen-how-to-cook.html

■Marutai Soy Sauce Ramen (マルタイ醤油ラーメン)

Soy sauce is called shoyu (醤油) in Japanese. Marutai Kyushu ramen series has two kinds of local soy sauce ramen, Oita and Nagasaki.

1. Oita Torigara Soy Sauce Ramen with Yuzu Zest Powder (大分鶏がら醤油ラーメン柚子皮粉末入り)

Oita Torigara Soy Sauce Ramen with Yuzu Zest Powder

Torigara (鶏がら) is chicken bones in Japanese. This is chicken bone based soy sauce ramen. Oita (大分) is famous for yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit. This ramen includes Oita yuzu zest powder, which completely changes the taste of soup. It had a little citrus flavor and really fresh yuzu aroma.

My blog entry related to Marutai Oita Torigara Soy Sauce Ramen can be seen here.

http://itisapieceofcake2011.blogspot.com/2017/04/marutai-oita-torigara-shoyu-ramen.html

2. Nagasaki Agodashi Soy Sauce Ramen (長崎あごだし入り醤油ラーメン)

Nagasaki Agodashi Soy Sauce Ramen

Hirado city (平戸市), which is located in Nagasaki prefecture (長崎県) is famous for Agodashi (あごだし), which is fish based broth made from dried flying fish. Agodashi has been very popular in Japan these years. The soup of this ramen is made from charcoal-grilled flying fish, pork, chicken, sardines, kelp, scallops, dried bonito flakes and tuna. It has savory and umami flavor.

My blog entry related to Marutai Nagasaki Agodashi Soy Sauce Ramen can be seen here.