Pulmuone's Nature is Delicious 'Jeongmyeon' Officially Certified as Vegan Ramen

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] Pulmuone’s new ramen product ‘Jeongmyeon,’ which has stirred the market with its roasting method, has officially received vegan certification.

On the 27th, Pulmuone Foods announced that its ramen brand ‘Nature is Delicious Jeongmyeon’ has obtained vegan food certification from the Korea Vegan Certification Institute.

The Korea Vegan Certification Institute, which conducted the vegan certification for Jeongmyeon, is an official organization responsible for vegan certification and assurance of food and cosmetics. Vegan certification is granted only to products that do not use animal-derived ingredients, are managed to prevent cross-contamination, and have not been tested on animals.

The Korea Vegan Certification Institute is known for having stricter and more rigorous certification procedures than overseas vegan certifications, and Jeongmyeon is the only domestic ramen product to have obtained this certification. The package of Jeongmyeon features the Korea Vegan Certification Institute’s vegan certification mark.

Unlike the vegan ramen typically imagined, Jeongmyeon is a ‘delicious vegan ramen’ characterized by a rich and spicy flavor. It is roasted with 12 kinds of vegetables including mushrooms, onions, napa cabbage, green onions, and radish, bringing out a clear and distinct umami taste of the vegetables. Additionally, it contains vegetable broth made from soybeans and a base soup made from jang (fermented soybean paste), giving it a rich flavor similar to meat broth.

Thanks to this, it breaks the stereotype that vegan ramen is bland and not spicy. It has gained great popularity among existing vegans and has spread by word of mouth as a ramen with a rich and clean aftertaste even among those who do not necessarily follow a vegetarian diet, opening a new horizon for vegan ramen. Jeongmyeon has sold over one million packs within two months of its launch and is expected to approach two million packs sold by the end of the year.

At the end of August, Pulmuone declared the full-scale launch of its ramen business, renewing the brand to ‘Nature is Delicious’ and releasing three products as its first works: Jeongmyeon, Baekmyeon, and Hongmyeon. Jeongmyeon, Baekmyeon, and Hongmyeon are produced using the ‘HTT Roasting (High Temperature Touchdown Roasting) method,’ which explosively enhances the original flavors of each ingredient, resulting in a rich and deep taste. Baekmyeon is clam soup ramen, Hongmyeon is beef mushroom soup ramen, and Jeongmyeon is a plant-based soup ramen made from 100% plant-based ingredients.