By Elvis Eromosele
Let me confess: I am not particularly a noodles person.
In fact, I have never quite understood the fascination with noodles. Perhaps it is the seasoning. Sometimes, I find the taste a little too artificial, almost as though the spices are trying too hard to convince me that I am eating something delicious. I can never quite put my finger on it, but I usually know when a plate of noodles is not for me.
So, imagine my surprise when I encountered Golden Penny Jollof Chicken Noodles from Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN).
FMN was one of the sponsors of the Africa Sustainability Forum 2026, which held in Lagos on October 20. As part of its support for the event, the company provided some of its products, and we had the privilege of receiving a couple of samples.
Among them was the Jollof Chicken Noodles.
Now, I wasn’t particularly excited. Noodles are noodles, I thought. But curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to give it a try.
First, it was remarkably easy to prepare. Nothing complicated. A few minutes, and it was ready.
Then came the aroma.
Oh, the aroma!
It filled the kitchen with that familiar, inviting smell of properly prepared Nigerian jollof. At that point, I knew this might be different.
And the taste? Simply impressive!
I am not exaggerating when I say this: it tastes like authentic Nigerian jollof. No capping!
The seasoning is beautifully balanced, the flavour is familiar, and there is none of that artificial aftertaste that usually puts me off some instant noodles. It actually tastes like someone took the time to understand what makes Nigerian jollof special and then figured out how to capture that experience in a packet of noodles.
I went in as a sceptic. I came out impressed.
In fact, I found myself wondering whether the seasoning could be used to prepare rice. Imagine cooking a pot of rice with that spice blend! If the noodles taste this good, I suspect the possibilities could be interesting.
And here is another thing: I can see why children would love this. It is tasty, convenient and easy to prepare. I suspect it could become a household favourite, particularly for parents looking for something quick that the children will actually enjoy.
Of course, I am not suggesting that children should live on noodles. A balanced diet remains important. But as an occasional meal, this is a rather impressive offering.
Credit where it is due. Flour Mills of Nigeria has done something interesting with Golden Penny Jollof Chicken Noodles.
I still wouldn’t describe myself as a noodles enthusiast. But I am willing to make an exception for this one.
Sometimes, the best product reviews come from people who had absolutely no intention of being impressed.
FMN, you may just have converted one sceptic!
Now, about that seasoning: can someone please tell me if I can use it to cook rice? Because I really want to try that!
PS: …perhaps FMN can consider the spice as a separate spinoff.
