Gluten Free Noodles: Ka Me Bean Thread - Product Review #45

Gluten Free Noodles:Ka Me Bean Thread

PRODUCT NAME:                               Bean Thread

BRAND:                                              Ka Me

COST:                                                $2.49

SIZE:                                                  3.75oz

COST PER OZ:                                   $0.65/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

ORGANIC:                                          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

VEGAN:                                             YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                   UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                   Taiwan



*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Looking at our library of reviews, you will see a lot of Asian style noodles mixed in there. With such a large Asian community in our area, it’s no surprise. We are accustomed to the Asian brands, which are a great affordable option. So what happens when an American brand markets and sells these Asian noodles? Do they taste better/worse? Is it as good a value as the Asian brands? These are some of the questions that popped into our heads when we saw the Ka Me Bean Thread Sai Fun.

Take a look at these 3.75oz packages of Ka Me Bean Threads or Sai Fun and you will immediately notice that the packages are pretty small. We are used to the Asian Brand varieties which are triple the size of this package. This package only contains 2 servings while most of the Asian brands contain 6 or more servings per package. So what about price? They have 1/3 the amount of noodles in them, do they cost 1/3 the price? You would think that, but they are actually close to double or triple the price. For value, these noodles get a pretty low rating.

Taste and texture-wise, these noodles are pretty good. They are a little sticky when you fry them up, but that’s a good thing. They have texture similar to silver noodles that you would find in a Korean or Thai restaurant. They are really good at absorbing the flavor of whatever sauce you fry them up in.

I think these noodles taste great and have great texture, but the price is a little on the higher side. It isn’t outrageously priced compared, but there are a lot of alternatives out there that are a better bang for the buck. Don’t be too discouraged by the price though because these noodles are very good.

Taste: The bean thread has great texture and is great at absorbing flavor. Stir fry them up with some vegetables, meat, and a little gluten free soy sauce and you have the perfect gluten free meal.

Labeling: You will find very simple labeling on this package. It isn’t marketed as gluten free, but just take a look at the ingredients and all you will see is mung bean starch and water so not only is it gluten free, it is also vegan.

Packaging: Air sealed package that will keep your noodles good for a long time. Our package had a use by date of Jan 12, 2013.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:         5
Taste:             5
Value:            2
OVERALL:      4



Reviewed 010611 by CC

Gluten Free Noodles: Oriental King Rice Stick - Product Review #43

PRODUCT NAME:                             Rice Stick

BRAND:                                            Oriental King

COST:                                              $0.79

SIZE:                                                16oz  

COST PER OZ:                                $0.05/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:              NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:               N/A

ORGANIC:                                        NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:               N/A

VEGAN:                                            YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                CHINA

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.            

REVIEW:
We here at Gluten Free Reviewer are lucky enough to live in an area with a big Asian community which gives us access to a large variety of affordable food.  This Oriental King Rice Stick is one of those items.  At only $0.79 for a 16 ounce package, what more can you ask for.  Noodles and rice are a large part of Asian culture.  They have rice or noodles with every meal.  It’s no wonder their noodles are so good.  This particular noodle is made of rice and is such, called rice stick.  There are many ways you can prepare it…boiled then sautéed, fried, or served in boiling hot soup.  No matter how you prepare it, these noodles are sure to be good. 

We opted to boil these noodles and sauté them up with some onions and garlic and it tasted great.  A lot of rice noodles seem to get mushy when you cook them, but these noodles stayed firm and held their shape.  Being that they are rice noodles, they are also good at absorbing the flavor of the gluten free tamari soy sauce we use.  I think I may have under cooked them a little bit because they were a little on the tough side, so if you decide to try these noodles out, make sure they are relatively soft before you sauté them.    

Taste: These are rice noodles so like most, they don’t have too much flavor, they are more like a base that you have to add to.  With some sautéed veggies and maybe some meat, these noodles are great.  Nice firm texture so they won’t fall apart like many other rice noodles.

Labeling:  The labeling on these Asian noodles is usually in Chinese or Vietnamese writing and I can’t read either, but this packaging wasn’t too difficult because there were actually English cooking instructions on the back.  

Packaging:  Simple plastic packaging with an airtight seal. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 4             

Taste:                     3             

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed  1/4/11 by CC

Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Guilin Rice Vermicelli - Product Review #40

Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Guilin Rice Vermicell

PRODUCT NAME:                              Guilin Rice Vermicelli

BRAND:                                             Five Grain Brand

COST:                                               $0.59

SIZE:                                                 14oz      

COST PER OZ:                                  $0.04/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                 NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

ORGANIC:                                          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                  N/A

VEGAN:                                              YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:                   UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                    China

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.            

REVIEW:
Looking at some of the other products we have reviewed in the past, you will see that we are a big fan of Asian rice noodles.  They are an affordable gluten free alternative to the fancier gluten free pastas.  That also might be because these noodles aren’t marketed as gluten free noodles.  Take a look at the ingredients, and all that is in the noodles is rice and water.  If you’re gluten intolerant and on a budget, I highly recommend trying these noodles if you have access to them.  Just look at the price…we got this 14oz package of Five Grains Brand Guilin Rice Vermicelli from Chinatown for only $0.59.  Try to find that in your local non-Asian supermarket… you won’t find anything that comes close. 

These particular noodles are Guilin Rice Vermicelli, which is a special type of noodle from Guilin, a city in China.  They are rich in history and have been around for over 2000 years.  It looks like they perfected the recipe too because they are some of the best noodles we have had, gluten free or not.  They come in different sizes, small to extra large, which references the diameter of the round noodles.  They are probably the closest you will get to regular spaghetti. 

The texture of these noodles is nice and firm.  A little uncommon for a rice noodle, but the people of Guilin, China have probably perfected the recipe for the noodle because don’t forget, these noodles have been in existence for over 2000 years.  One trick though when making though.  After boiling them up, put them in some cold water to prevent them from sticking together. 

Taste: Not much flavor as this is a typical rice noodle, but the texture is perfect.  It is nice and firm and doesn’t fall apart while cooking like many other rice noodles do. 

Labeling:  For an Asian noodle company, the labeling on this is actually pretty good…No typos and nice high quality image of the noodles on the front. 

Packaging:  Typical plastic packaging for noodles.  You won’t find double packaging here. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              5

Reviewed 120310 by CC

Weekend Edition Hot Off the Press #2: Sprouting Ideas

Mung beans are a common ingredient in Asian cooking.  Is it because it is readily available, is it the taste, is it the cost, or is it the health benefits.  It’s probably a combination of all of the above.  Yesterday we had a review for mung bean thread, which is noodle made with mung beans, broad beans and water.  It was affordable, it was tasty, and apparently it is good for you. 

So what are mung beans?  Mung beans have several different names.  They are known as green beans, mung, and moog among many other names.  When they sprout, they are bean sprouts.  Yes, the same bean sprouts that are probably in half of the dishes you order at your local Chinese restaurant.  So you have most likely encountered them.  You probably just didn’t know what they were.    Especially in Asian cooking, you will find different variations of the mung beans.  You know one form, which is the bean sprout, the other surprising places you might find the mung bean is in your noodles and your dessert.  The starch from the mung beans is extracted and used as an ingredient to make noodles and jellies. 

What are the advantages of eating mung beans?  Mung beans are very nutritious.  They are a good source for Vitamin A, B, C and E, as well as Calcium, iron, potassium and fiber.    Mung beans are recommended in diets because they help lower cholesterol, and help digestion because of their high fiber content.  What does this all mean?  Bottom line, they are good for you.

If you have access to Asian food stores, mung bean can also be a very affordable alternative.  Take for example our mung bean noodles from yesterday’s review, that package was only $0.99!  If you can save money while also maintaining a good diet, wouldn’t you try it?  Stir fry some mung bean noodles with some vegetables and maybe some meat and you have a nice balanced meal and you don’t have to break the bank. 

Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Mung Bean Thread - Product Review #25

Gluten Free Noodles: Five Grain Brand Mung Bean Thread

PRODUCT NAME:                       Mung Bean Thread

BRAND:                                      Five Grain Brand

COST:                                        $0.99

SIZE:                                           5.3oz

COST PER OZ:                            $0.19/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

ORGANIC:                                    NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

VEGAN:                                        UNKNOWN

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:               UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             China

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Being in San Francisco has its perks; one of them being the large Asian community which gives us the privilege of cheap Asian food.  As we have said before, Asian rice noodles are a good cheap gluten free alternative.  Asian rice noodles usually only contain rice and water.  Today, we had mung bean thread, which looks a lot like rice noodles.  And much like rice noodles, the ingredients were very simple… mung bean, broad bean and water are the only ingredients in these noodles.  Being that they are from Chinatown…these were extremely affordable.  $0.99 for the 5.3oz pack, which calculates out to just $0.19 an ounce. 

Many of these noodles are best when served in hot soup.  These particular noodles  are very firm and would do great in soup.  If you plan to serve them dry, cook them a little longer so they aren’t as tough to chew.  I undercooked them a little and found them very firm and springy. 

Taste: Taste-wise…there isn’t too much to these noodles.  Not much flavor, but really good texture.  Fry them up with some stir fried vegetables and meat or serve them up in some piping on noodles…they will be perfect. 

Labeling: These noodles are pretty simple and there isn’t much too them so there really isn’t too much to be said about the labeling. 

Packaging: Non recyclable packaging. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     3

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              4.3

Gluten Free Noodles: China Sea vs. Annie Chun's Maifun - Product Review #10

Today, we have a double play… two different brands of maifun, which is the Chinese version of rice vermicelli, China Sea and Annie Chun’s All Natural Asian Cuisine.  One is imported from Taiwan and the other from Thailand.  One has fancier looking packaging than the other.  So how do they stack up to each other? 

On one corner of the ring, we have:

Gluten Free Noodles: China Sea Maifun

PRODUCT NAME:                            Maifun (Rice Vermicelli)

BRAND:                                           China Sea

COST:                                              $1.59

SIZE:                                                6oz

COST PER OZ:                                 $0.27/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:               NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                N/A

ORGANIC:                                        NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                N/A

VEGAN:                                            UNKNOWN

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                   UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                  Taiwan

On the other side of the ring, we have:

Gluten Free Noodles: Annie Chun's Maifun

PRODUCT NAME:                              Maifun (Rice Vermicelli)

BRAND:                                             Annie Chun’s

COST:                                               $2.59

SIZE:                                                 8oz

COST PER OZ:                                  $0.32/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:                NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 N/A

ORGANIC:                                         NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:                 N/A

VEGAN:                                            UNKNOWN

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:                    UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:                  Thailand

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

These two products are very similar.  Both imported from Asia, both the same type of noodle but that’s as far as the similarities go.  They have different taste, different textures, different packaging, and a different marketing approach. 

Taste: These noodles both tasted great, but Annie Chun’s version gets the win here.  It is a softer noodle and it absorbs flavor a little better than the China Sea version.  Texture wise, China Sea sea wins.  It stayed together a lot better and had a firmer texture that we liked.  Annie Chun’s maifun kind of fell apart and was super soft.

Labeling: The labeling on this box uses 2 totally different approaches.  The China Sea version is more of an Asian style packaging with some Chinese characters on the front of a plastic package  There is no mention that it is  gluten free, but the ingredients are rice and water so it is definitely gluten free.  Annie Chun’s packaging is more of an American style package with a nice bowl of chow maifun (fried rice vermicelli noodles) on the front.  It also says that it is Gluten free.  The China Sea maifun is something you might find at your local asian market and Annie Chun’s maifun is something you might find at a health food store or an American supermarket. 

Packaging: The China Sea Maifun has a plastic packaging. Annie Chun’s Maifun is double packaged.  It is sealed in a plastic package that is put in a recycled paperboard box.  It is an attractive looking package, but is it really necessary? 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

China Sea Maifun RATING:

Texture:                 4                             

Taste:                     3

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              4

Annie Chun’s Maifun RATING:

Texture:                 3                             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              4.3

Reviewed 11/9/10 by CC

Gluten Free Noodles: Dragon Fly Brand Rice Stick - Product Review #9

Gluten Free Noodles: Dragon Fly Brand Rice Stick

PRODUCT NAME:                  Rice Stick

BRAND:                                 Dragonfly Brand

COST:                                   $3.35

SIZE:                                     14oz

COST PER OZ:                       $0.23

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:      N/A

ORGANIC:                              NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:       N/A

VEGAN:                                  NO

WHEAT FREE FACILITY:         UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:        Thailand

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging. We cannot verify the accuracy of this information. For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.      


REVIEW:

Asian rice noodles are a hidden gem to gluten-free eaters.  They are typically cheap and you get a ton of noodles.  They come in various varieties and sizes.  Today we had the Dragonfly Brand Rice Stick in Size: XL and Size: M.  The size refers to the thickness of the noodles.  We found that both had pretty much the same flavor and texture.  We had these dry, but we can see the potential of these noodles in a nice soup.  They are very good at absorbing the flavor of whatever it is served with. 

Another thing to note with these noodles is the cooking.  It is very easy to cook these noodles.  All you need to do is soak them in warm to hot water for about 5-7 minutes depending on how firm you want them.  I would consider this energy conserving cooking as you do not need to keep the water boiling to get these noodles cooked. 

These noodles are perfect for pretty much everyone.  They are cheap…only $0.23/oz.  They are Gluten free…even though it doesn’t say it.  They are healthy…minimal sodium and only 200 calories per serving.  With a few packs of these, you can probably feed an entire army. 

Taste: The taste of these noodles by themselves are pretty bland, however it does a very good job at absorbing flavors.  The texture can be manipulated as well depending on how you plan to serve them.  If you want them a little chewy, undercook them, and if you want them soft, cook them for a little longer.  No matter if you prefer chewy or soft noodles, these are the answers. 

Labeling: Very simple labeling on this one with something written in what I assume is Thai, but whatever it says, we know we like the noodles. 

Packaging: The packaging is non recyclable plastic.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product..

RATING:

Texture:                 5                             

Taste:                     5

Value:                    5

OVERALL:              5