Ching's SecretInstant Noodles#35 of 85 in categoryRating 2.7/5

Ching's Secret Schezwan Cup Noodles

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains TBHQ
  • Red flag: High sodium (1853mg per 100g)
  • Red flag: High saturated fat (9.4g)
  • Red flag: Refined flour (maida) base

Green flags

  • Green flag: Source of fibre

Ingredients, decoded

29 listed
  • Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida)
  • Refined Palm Oil
  • Iodised Salt
  • Wheat Gluten
  • Maize Starch
  • Thickeners (INS 508, INS 412)
  • Stabilizer (INS 451(i))
  • Acidity Regulators (INS 500(i), INS 501(i))
  • Antioxidant (INS 319)
  • Seasoning Mix: Sugar
  • Potato Starch
  • Chilli
  • Dehydrated French Beans
  • Dehydrated Carrot
  • Flavour Enhancer (INS 635)
  • Dehydrated Garlic
  • Dehydrated Onion
  • Natural Flavour
  • Tomato Powder
  • Soy Sauce Powder
  • Colour (INS 150a)
  • Acidity Regulator (INS 330)
  • Dehydrated Herb
  • Dehydrated Ginger Powder
  • Anticaking Agents (INS 551, INS 470a)
  • Refined Sunflower Oil
  • Yeast Extract
  • Thickener (INS 415)
  • Nature-Identical Flavouring Substances
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

CC4

Nutrition per 100 g
CNutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictFAIR
Energy455 kcal
Protein5.1 g
Carbohydrates63 g
Total sugars5.4 g
Added sugars2.2 g
Dietary fibre4.6 g
Total fat20.3 g
Saturated fat9.4 g
Trans fat0 g
Sodium1853 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Sugar first in the sachet, 65% of a day's salt

Ching's Secret Schezwan Cup is a palm-fried maida noodle with a seasoning led by sugar and potato starch, then chilli, dried beans, carrot, garlic and onion, with enhancer 635 and flavourings.

CleanPlate scores it CC4. The C for nutrition is borderline, from a little protein and fibre. The C for ingredients reflects maida, palm oil, TBHQ and ten additives, helped by real dried vegetables. The 4 for risk comes from very high sodium and saturated fat.

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • Product name

    “Schezwan”

    Holds

    Chilli, garlic, ginger and soy give a Schezwan-style flavour; the name is a flavour profile.

How CC4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
C

Adequate nutrient density

Protein
5.1 g
Fibre
4.6 g
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
455 kcal

Scored on eight nutrients (protein, fibre, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, D and zinc), per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour
Main fat
Refined Palm Oil
Sweeteners
Seasoning Mix: Su...
Additives
10
Flagged
3 ingredients

Scored on six things: base processing, fat quality, sweeteners, additives, colours and flavours.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
2.2 g
Sodium
1853 mg
Saturated fat
9.4 g
Trans fat
0 g

Scored on added sugar, sodium and saturated fat, with a penalty for trans fat.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

The noodle is maida, palm oil, salt, gluten, maize starch, thickeners, a phosphate, acidity regulators and TBHQ. The seasoning is sugar, potato starch, chilli, dried beans and carrot, enhancer 635, garlic, onion, natural flavour, tomato, soy sauce powder with plain caramel, citric acid, herbs, ginger, anticaking agents, sunflower oil, yeast extract, xanthan gum and flavourings.

Per 100 g: 455 kcal, 20.3 g fat of which 9.4 g saturated, 1853 mg sodium, 2.2 g added sugar, 5.1 g protein and 4.6 g fibre.

Ingredients to watch

  • SodiumConcern

    1853 mg per 100 g; 1297 mg in one 70 g cup, 65% of the daily limit.

  • Saturated fatConcern

    9.4 g per 100 g from palm oil.

  • TBHQ (319)Concern

    A synthetic antioxidant in the noodle.

  • SugarWorth watching

    The first seasoning ingredient.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Schezwan means just chilli and garlic"

Sugar leads this seasoning.

Myth: "MSG is what makes instant noodles unhealthy"

Flavour enhancers are not the main issue at food levels. The salt, the palm-fried refined flour and the lack of fibre matter far more.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsRarely
  • ChildrenRarely; spicy
  • High blood pressureAvoid

Smarter ways to eat it

Use half the sachet

Season the rest with fresh garlic, chilli, onion and a squeeze of lemon. The flavour stays; a large share of the sodium goes.

Make it a meal

Add an egg, paneer, tofu or boiled chana and a handful of vegetables so the bowl brings protein and fibre, not just refined flour.

Common questions

Is Ching's Secret Schezwan Cup Noodles healthy?

Ching's Secret Schezwan Cup Noodles scores CC4 (Fair) on CleanPlate, which makes it an occasional-use product, where the concerns start to outweigh the positives. The main concerns are: Contains TBHQ; High sodium (1853mg per 100g); High saturated fat (9.4g); Refined flour (maida) base. On the plus side: Source of fibre.

What does the CC4 score mean?

The first letter (C) grades nutritional value: adequate nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Ching's Secret Schezwan Cup Noodles should I watch?

Noodles: Refined Wheat Flour (Maida) (Maida), Refined Palm Oil (Palm oil), Antioxidant (INS 319) (TBHQ).

Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

Better Instant Noodles

All 85 →