Japan: Instant noodles with "mystery meat" return to shelves after a 7-year absence.

For those who enjoy instant noodles, the chewy noodles blanched in hot water with their delicious flavor are always the most appealing element.

But for those who have ever been passionate about Cup Noodles, another crucial element that contributes to its immense appeal is the "mystery meat."

"Mystery Meat" is the name Nissin, the manufacturer of instant noodles, gives to the small pieces of meat floating in the broth of this most famous instant noodle brand in Japan.

The love for the "mystery meat" was so strong that in 2018, after Nissin posted a photo of a bowl of rice topped with the "mystery meat" on Twitter, the public immediately responded by calling on the company to actually release the product.

To please the masses, Nissin produced a limited-edition "Mystery Meat Bowl" for its Cup Meshi instant rice line, and all 10,000 boxes sold out in Japan in just 1.6 seconds.

However, it wasn't until seven years later that Nissin was able to truly serve its Japanese customers.

This month, the mysterious meat noodles not only return with the Cup Meshi product line but are also no longer an online exclusive, but are now available at supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.

Nissin's "mystery meat." (Source: Japan Today)

The method for preparing the new Kanzen Meshi Cup Noodles is similar to how you prepare instant noodles. First, boil water and pour it into the cup. Stir well, wait five minutes for it to cook, add the seasoning packet, and you're done.

Instead of a bowl of dry rice like in the 2018 photo, this dish has a rich broth like a bowl of soup, and the broth flavor of Kanzen Meshi Mystery Meat Bowl is similar to instant noodle broth, with a strong pepper and soy sauce flavor, along with the rich meaty taste from the generous amount of mystery meat.

And if you're wondering why Japan, a country that prides itself on high-quality ingredients, is so enthusiastic about what they call "mystery meat," the recipe isn't a big secret: it's a combination of minced pork, vegetables, and soy-based ingredients.

The Kanzen Meshi Mystery Meat Bowl is priced at 398 yen. Nissin hasn't said anything about limited quantities this time, but given the pent-up demand over the past seven years, stores will likely sell out very quickly.

Previously, Nissin Food Products sold these meat portions separately under the name "mystery meat," a term widely popularized by customers of fast-food, low-cost meals.

Each 200-gram box – equivalent to 47 cups of instant noodles containing these meatballs – retails for 650 yen (US$4).

The back of the box features several suggested recipes for this water-soaked protein, including pasta with bolognese sauce, hamburgers, or stuffed peppers.

Since its invention 66 years ago by Nissin founder Momofuku Ando, instant noodles have taken the world by storm, with the market projected to nearly double to $90.8 billion by 2032 compared to the previous decade.

For Tokyo-based Nissin, embracing new trends is a way to meet consumer demand in a market that is now flooded with choices.

On Nissin's online store, around 600 boxes sold out in just about three hours – faster than most other new products, according to the company.

“I knew the new product would become popular, but I didn’t expect it to be this popular,” said Tomohiro Kono of Nissin’s marketing department. “Customers have told us through the website and social media that they want to eat more foods with this ingredient.”

After the term became popular on social media, Nissin began using "mystery meat" in its marketing in 2016, and eventually offered cup noodles with an added serving of this food item.

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