In the flavouring sachet you get with packets of noodles, there always seems to be a little square bit of something dark green. What is It?

satguru

My initial guess would be seaweed, but the alternative method ought to be to eliminate all the familiar or unlikely (like E numbers etc) names from the ingredients and what is left should be the vegetable. Normal Chinese seaweed is actually shredded cabbage but the large pieces are more likely to be the real thing. Oct 26 10, 8:00 AM

Baloo55th

Just says spices. You wouldn't just put one piece less than 1/4" square of cabbage. I wondered about bay, but then thought they'd more likely use powdered than one tiny piece. Oct 26 10, 8:07 AM

satguru

Bay is a recognisable leaf shape and not really edible but usually discarded when found in rice or other meals. This is apparently a slice of vegetable, while seaweed would be strong enough both to provide quite a bit of flavour and would be eaten along with everything else. I'm surprised no one else has got it yet but my last resort is always to contact companies directly which I did before the internet when the libraries ran out of information. I'm sure one of the big Chinese food companies here like Hoo Hing would know if you asked them. Oct 26 10, 8:04 PM

Verbonica

My Ramen noodle flavoring packet says: dehydrated vegetables, (onion, garlic, chive), chives could be the green things... http://hubpages.com/hub/Ramen-Spices Oct 31 10, 12:09 AM

Baloo55th

There's only one per packet usually, so I rule out chives and such which are normally in such quantity as to need listing (over here anyway - don't know the American or other rules). This stuff is thin and very dark green - aren't chives usually rolled up? (Don't buy Ramen - every packet I've seen has onion in it...) Oct 31 10, 5:02 AM