With the global rise of K-pop and Korean culture, interest in Korean cuisine has been on the rise. This has made traditional Korean foods such as kimchi, doenjang (soybean paste) and gochujang (red chili paste) more popular than ever. Gochujang has gained popularity alongside kimchi, especially as people become more health-conscious after the coronavirus outbreak. It is a spicy sauce with a distinctive sweet flavor, similar to Sriracha and Tabasco, that is familiar to Koreans but somewhat exotic to foreigners. Gochujang's blend of spicy and sweet flavors makes it versatile in a variety of dishes that appeal to both adults and children. Recently, there have been many mentions of gochujang in K-food articles in overseas media, emphasizing that it is a healthy ingredient in addition to its spicy flavor.
Amazon offers a range of gochujang products from Korea. On the platform, gochujang is described as “Korean Chili Sauce” and promoted for its unique spiciness and versatility in cooking. The best-selling gochujang on Amazon is Chung Jung One's “Sunchang” gochujang, the top-selling product in the chili sauce category. Notable reviews from American consumers who have purchased the product on Amazon include: “It's not too spicy and allows for adjustable heat levels, making it great for various dishes,” “It's a tasty and healthy option, not loaded with MSG or excess salt like other hot sauces,” and “It complements all kinds of foods and is great for creating fusion dishes.”
After Chung Jung One's gochujang, other popular brands include CJ Cheiljedang's “Bibigo Gochujang”and “Haechandle Gochujang.” Sempio also offers a vegan-friendly gochujang called "Taeyangcho Gochujang. Sempio has even introduced a gluten-free gochujang with lemon for added flavor, expanding the sauce's applications beyond traditional Korean dishes to various world cuisines.