Skip to content

Recent Posts

  • New Resource…Guide To Legally Selling Hot Sauce
  • How to Age Hot Pepper Mash For Hot Sauce
  • Can I Sell Hot Sauce Without FDA Approval?
  • Best Bottles for Hot Sauce
  • Do All Hot Sauces Contain Preservatives?

Most Used Categories

  • Making Hot Sauce (70)
  • Eating Hot Sauce (39)
  • Facts (27)
  • Ingredients (19)
  • Hot Sauce Industry (18)
  • Hot Sauce Business (13)
  • Selling Hot Sauce (8)
  • Uncategorized (6)
  • Recipes (4)
Skip to content
Hot Sauce Hell

Hot Sauce Hell

What every connoisseur should know about hot sauce

Subscribe
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Hot Sauce Recipe Worksheet
  • Survey
  • Free Info Products
  • Contact
  • Home
  • 2021
  • July
  • 14
  • Gochujang: Origins and Use

Gochujang: Origins and Use

thomasrobertthompsonJuly 14, 2021July 7, 2023

Nearly every culture in the world seems to have some sort of hot sauce condiment or spiciness to complement their specialty cuisines. For some societies, hot sauces and spicy foods are more popular and part of everyday consumption. Other countries like Korea enjoy spice in their meals and it is often in the form of Gochujang.

Gochujang is a red pepper paste of thick texture and medium heat. It has a sweetness that comes from the starch of glutinous rice, but a commercially manufactured Gochujang will include corn syrups and sugar instead of rice to produce the sweetness. Generally speaking, Gochujang has a medium level of heat although it is available in more potent heat levels and spiciness.

Gochujang, Pronounced, kôCHo͞oˌjaNG is a hot sauce paste from Korea with a texture much thicker than American ketchup. It is used more as a cooking agent and not as a finish like other condiments, hot sauces, or pastes. To produce it Gochujang has a deeper involved process like fermentation, compared to other chili pastes like harissa or shatta that involve a mashed pepper paste. Similar pastes like a Japanese Miso or doubanjiang from China may also have equally complex processes.

Spicy food and peppers are a staple in Asian and Korean cuisine and have been for centuries. Over the past five years, Gochujang has gained popularity in the US and now it is produced both domestically and internationally. I can find Gochujang in my local supermarkets and have a couple of different brands to choose from. Asian cultural counterparts of a hot pepper paste such as doubanjiang from China, well as sauces from other areas of Asia, have similar sauces but are not gaining the popularity of Gochujang.

Where is it from and how was it invented?

Gochujang is a spicy red pepper paste that originated from Korea centuries ago according to korea.net. It was consumed before documentation revealed why it was consumed but like other hot sauces and paste was probably consumed for its bold flavors it added to meals. Further contemporary documentation provides information that Gochujang was consumed because the peppers were readily available, and they were believed to provide health benefits. The component responsible for the heat of a pepper, capsaicin, has proven to provide health benefits such as pain relief and increasing metabolism states webmd.com. Modern-day versions of Gochujang probably do not contain much capsaicin as some hotter sauces.

What is it made with?

Most commercially manufactured Gochujang will include a red pepper powder and are not made with fresh peppers like many hot sauces or other forms of hot pepper paste are. A sundried red chili is what provides the rich red color, flavor, and heat and is mixed with other ingredients that contribute to the paste form. Powders are a concentrated form of dried peppers that also add to the consistency but it is not typically one of the main ingredients. There are many ingredients such as soy sauce, garlic, salt and preservatives in commercially made Gochujang but these are the more traditional.

Soybeans

Many hot sauces use soybeans or soybean products in their bottled sauces. For a Gochujang, it is a mash of dried and fermented soybean. Fermenting food is not uncommon in many Asian foods and for Gochujang this is where the protein comes from. They also contribute to the thickness of the sauce and are responsible for the umami flavor profile.

Gochu

In Korea, a chili pepper is called a gochu which is where Gochujang gets its name from. Gochu meaning pepper and jang meaning seasoning. There is not typically any specific species of peppers used to make it like other pastes or hot sauces but there are hot peppers cultivated from Korea that have been used in traditional pastes.

Research shows that the hot pepper was brought to Korea by birds millions of years and therefore is native to Korea and has evolved into its own variety. No…they didn’t fly over with the pepper in their beak but probably consumed it and provided seeds from their excrement. Now, the peppers are grown in regions of Korea used specifically for hot pepper paste. However, the peppers are usually in the form of a powder from ground up sun-dried peppers.

Gochujang or Korean chili paste is made with much more ingredients than crushed red peppers like many other pastes are. Commercial brands will contain syrups and soybean and peppers, in the form of a powder, but the peppers may only be listed as the third or fourth ingredient.

Hot sauces from the US, Mexico, and other regions will generally list hot peppers as the first ingredient in the sauce. This will make the sauces much hotter and the flavors much different when compared to Gochujang. Hot peppers mostly contain water and this contributes to the consistency of a hot sauce but they are dried when used in Gochujang so this adds to the paste-like form. However, the main ingredient that makes the paste is sticky rice or glutinous rice.

Glutinous rice, sticky rice, or porridge

Glutinous rice is NOT rice with gluten or wheat in it. It gets its name from the glue-like substance that is created when it is overcooked. The name is misleading but glutinous rice is gluten-free, therefore the end results of Gochujang will be gluten-free as well.

Glutinous rice is where a Gochujang gets its sweetness from but commercially produced sauces will use brown sugar or sweeteners as a common ingredient. Brown sugar doesn’t necessarily replace glutinous rice but it can also add to the thickness.

Corn syrup, rice syrup, or brown sugar

Corn syrup or other types of syrup are used in hot sauces and sauces intended to be used with meats to sweeten the flavor against the spiciness of the peppers. They can thicken up a hot sauce or paste but were not what was traditionally used to make Gochujang. Brown sugar or sweeteners are also a common ingredient replacing the syrups used in a commercial paste or the glutinous rice used for traditional sauces. Sugar in any form is not uncommon in a commercial or homemade sauce.

What does it taste like?

Gochujang is often described as having an umami flavor profile. Umami is one of the five flavor profiles and is typically described as meaty or savory. Of the other flavor profiles, sweet, salty, sour, and bitter, only sweet and salty are evident in Gochujang.

How hot is Gochujang?

Generally speaking, Gochujang is only about a medium heat compared to some hot sauces although the level of heat will vary greatly depending on the brand. It typically has a Scoville of about 1,000 – 2,000 SHU and can be compared to the heat level of a Tabasco® sauce.

What is it eaten with?

Korean foods have their roots in the sauce states sciencedirect.com. Unlike traditional hot sauces that are meant as a finish gochujang and other pastes are usually mixed or cooked with noodles stews or meat dishes. It has a deep rich umami flavor of many levels that can contribute a deeper flavor to many meals.

The paste is also mixed with other condiments to expand on its flavor and is used as a marinade for meats. Gochujang Aioli is a condiment of mayonnaise and spices that is eaten with kimchi, Korean steak tacos, or burritos.

Is Gochujang a hot sauce?

Many condiments fall under the umbrella of a hot sauce. Within that label are also subcategories like salsas, pastes, and picante. They all have one thing in common and that is a level of spiciness to them from hot peppers or chili peppers.

Oh hi there
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

Get The Hot Sauce Recipe Workbook FREE with sign up!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Post navigation

Previous: Shatta: Hot Pepper Paste
Next: What Is Thai Style Hot Sauce?

Related Posts

How Hot is Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp?

October 8, 2023October 8, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

Hot Sauce Consumer Trends 2024

September 27, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

10 Best Hot Sauces on Eggs and How to Use Them

September 20, 2023September 24, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

About Me...

Hi I'm Tom...Hot sauce expert! I love hot sauce...and I hope you do too! Read More...or don't

Top Posts

  • 9 Things You Can Do If Hot Sauce Is In Your Eye!
    9 Things You Can Do If Hot Sauce Is In Your Eye!
  • 12 Standard Hot Sauce Preservatives...and How To Use Them
    12 Standard Hot Sauce Preservatives...and How To Use Them
  • How To Use Xanthan Gum in a Hot Sauce
    How To Use Xanthan Gum in a Hot Sauce
  • How To LEGALLY Sell Hot Sauce! A Guide for Entering The Hot Sauce Business
    How To LEGALLY Sell Hot Sauce! A Guide for Entering The Hot Sauce Business

Guide To The Hot Sauce Business: International Edition

Learn to manufacture, market, and sell hot sauce...anywhere in the world! This book covers the global requirements for making and selling hot sauce for success in the hot sauce business!


Guide to Selling Hot Sauce at a Farmer's Market

A complete guide to understanding local cottage food laws, how to get your hot sauce approved, what type of hot sauce sells at a farmer's market, how to succeed at sales, & state by state requirements, and more...Get the paperback, hardcover or kindle HERE from Amazon...or save 20% with the Pocket Companion.


How To Start A Hot Sauce Business 2nd Edition

This is a huge resource on starting a hot sauce business with a focus on state and federal regulations. Includes everything to start selling everywhere from local farm markets to regional store chains. Available as an instant download HERE and as a paperback on Amazon HERE. Or get the recently released hardcover HERE.

BUY

Guide Hot Sauce pH

The pH of a new hot sauce recipe could determine its shelf life, duration of freshness and its eligibility as a cottage food. This is the information you can't find! Get the paperback HERE from Amazon or download the PDF HERE.


Guide To The Hot Sauce Business

OUR BEST SELLER! This guidebook breaks down successfully starting a hot sauce business in monthly increments. If you have decided you want to start a hot sauce business but don't know where to start...GET THIS BOOK! Get this top seller as a paperback on Amazon HERE or as an instant download HERE.

BUY

Available on these great sites:


Guide To Making Hot Sauce

Making delicious and original hot sauce recipes is super easy with this guide. Learn the secrets of making your own unique hot sauces that are ready for store shelves. Get the recently published paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Hot Sauce Recipes

Get 50 delicious and unique gourmet hot sauce recipes with detail directions to make one of a kind hot sauces. Each recipe stands alone using ingredients such as blueberries, mushrooms, and bourbon! This book includes note-taking pages to alter each recipe to your liking. Get the paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Understanding Small Business

This book covers all the basic information about small business enterprise and entrepreneurship. Many small business startup and operate with a similar business model to include the need for a business plan and obtaining the proper funding. Get the paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Legal Disclaimer

This site is owned and operated by Hot Sauce Hell headquartered in Rochester, NY. Hot Sauce Hell is a participating member of Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program for sites to earn fees through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic to other businesses. 


Oh hi there
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

Get The Hot Sauce Recipe Workbook FREE with sign up!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.


LATEST POSTS

  • New Resource…Guide To Legally Selling Hot Sauce
  • How to Age Hot Pepper Mash For Hot Sauce
  • Can I Sell Hot Sauce Without FDA Approval?
  • Best Bottles for Hot Sauce
  • Do All Hot Sauces Contain Preservatives?

Pure Hot Sauce Company

...We have carefully crafted this sauce to bring out the full flavor and heat of the habanero pepper, while also balancing it with other high quality ingredients to create a complex and nuanced taste experience...

Copyright All Rights Reserved
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d