5-minute listening: Nissin’s new Cup Noodles breakfast flavour tastes like maple syrup pancakes
- Popular instant ramen brand is shaking up breakfast with pancake-flavoured noodles covered in a maple syrup and butter sauce
- Practise your English with our short listening exercises: play the audio linked below; answer the questions; and check the answers at the bottom of the page
Nissin’s new ramen noodles in the US have a surprising combination of sweet and savoury flavours. Photo: Instagram/@junkfoodmomQuestions
1. If you “keep someone on their toes”, you ...
A. get them to try something they are not experienced with.
B. make sure they pay attention to what you are doing.
C. upset them by getting involved in something that is their responsibility.
D. none of the above
2. What does Nissin’s new breakfast product taste like?
A. eggs, pancakes and sausages
B. waffles, hash brown and cereal
C. muffins, sausages and yogurt
D. cereal, eggs and pancakes
3. What should you do with the sauce that comes with the noodles, according to the podcast?
A. boil it over high heat
B. pour it over the cooked noodles
C. mix it with maple syrup
D. add melted butter to it
4. Which word has the opposite meaning to “savoury” in the podcast?
A. aromatic
B. salty
C. sweet
D. appetising
5. What are some criticisms about the pancake-flavoured cup noodles?
A. It is too sweet.
B. It does not taste natural.
C. It is too soft.
D. all of the above
6. If you have a “craving”, you have ...
A. an extremely strong feeling of dislike for something.
B. a lack of interest in doing anything.
C. a strong feeling of wanting something.
D. an intense desire to get rid of something.
7. Based on your understanding of the podcast, the phrase “some might turn their nose up to the idea of eating cup noodles for breakfast” suggests that this group of people is unlikely to ...
A. try Nissin’s latest cup noodles flavour.
B. consume cup noodles in the morning.
C. eat breakfast during the weekends.
D. skip breakfast before going to work.
8. According to the podcast, which is the most important meal of the day?
A. breakfast
B. lunch
C. dinner
D. information not given
9. Eating breakfast reduces the chance of having ...
A. high blood pressure.
B. heart disease.
C. diabetes.
D. all of the above
10. When did Nissin release cup noodles with a pumpkin spice flavour?
A. 2005
B. 2010
C. 2021
D. 2022
11. Which of the following best describes something that is “limited edition”?
A. Only a certain number of these items are produced.
B. The product is manufactured in large quantities.
C. The item is sold worldwide.
D. Only a select few are allowed to purchase it.
12. How many Nissin cup noodles were sold in 2022?
A. 80 million
B. 50 billion
C. 20 trillion
D. information not given
13. What does “the retailer” towards the end of the podcast refer to?
A. pumpkin spice
B. Nissin Foods
C. Walmart stores
D. cup noodles
14. According to the podcast, which country is Nissin’s cup noodles breakfast currently available in?
A. the United Kingdom
B. the United States
C. Japan
D. Korea
15. What does the podcast end with?
A. a health warning
B. a food review
C. a recipe
D. none of the above
Answers
1. B
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. D
6. C
7. B
8. D
9. D
10. C
11. A
12. D
13. C
14. B
15. A
Script
Adapted from Tribune News Agency
Voice 1: Nissin Foods USA sure knows how to keep its customers on their toes. The maker of the popular cup noodles ramen brand is moving into the breakfast market with a product that tastes like maple syrup pancakes, sausages and eggs.
Voice 2: Nissin’s pancake cup noodles are a unique spin on the classic cup noodles, featuring pancake-flavoured noodles with a maple syrup and butter sauce. The noodles are made with a blend of wheat flour and cornmeal, and they come with a packet of sauce to pour over the noodles.
Voice 1: Some online reviews describe the flavour as surprisingly accurate to pancakes and syrup, with a sweet and savoury combination that is both unusual and enjoyable. Others find the taste to be too sweet or artificial, and some have commented that the texture of the noodles is a bit too mushy.
Voice 2: According to Priscila Stanton, senior vice-president for marketing for Nissin Foods USA, the company had the idea to bring great breakfast cravings into a cup. She added that Americans might connect more with the sweetness of breakfast.
Voice 1: While some might turn their nose up to the idea of eating cup noodles for breakfast, nearly a quarter of people in the United States skip breakfast daily. Whether it’s because of time constraints or a lack of to-go options in the house, skipping breakfast increases the risk of weight gain, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and more.
Voice 2: The breakfast cup isn’t the brand’s first product with an unusual flavour. In 2021, as part of its 50th anniversary, Nissin Foods released a limited-edition Pumpkin Spice flavour for the fall.
Voice 1: In 2021 alone, Nissin Foods sold over 50 billion cup noodles worldwide. Now that they’ve added breakfast to their offerings, who knows where that number will go? Cup Noodles Breakfast is available in select Walmart stores in the US and on the retailer’s website.
Voice 2: That said, it should be noted that while Nissin cup noodles can be a convenient meal option for busy individuals, they should not be part of a daily diet. It’s important to balance our diet with a variety of whole foods to ensure we are getting all the necessary nutrients our body needs.