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 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