I saw the words “patented method” on Toyo Suisan’s “Tonpara Hakata Tonkotsu” cup noodles, so I decided to buy a pack.
The package also listed the patent number: “Japanese Patent No. 7080653.”
When I looked it up on J-PlatPat, I found that the invention is titled “Method for producing fried instant noodles to be reconstituted with hot water,” and the applicant is Toyo Suisan. Looking at the claims, it stated that the raw noodle strands are deep-fried without undergoing an α-conversion process. Additionally, Toyo Suisan’s website referred to it as the “Non-Steam Manufacturing Method.”
Toyo Suisan website: Announcement of the New Release of “Tonkotsu Paradise: Hakata Tonkotsu” (Japanese only)
https://www.maruchan.co.jp/news_topics/entry/2026/05/post_20211144.html
This is a different patent from the “special manufacturing method for keeping raw noodles delicious”—also from Toyo Suisan’s Maruchan series—which I covered in a previous blog post!
Past blog post: “Manufacturing method for keeping raw noodles delicious”
The noodles were thin and firm, just like you’d expect from tonkotsu ramen, and the broth was rich and delicious. It’s also great that the wait time is only 2 minutes! (Marron)