Made from chili pepper, sweet rice, malt and malt syrup and fermented for at least six months months in traditional crocks, Gochujang is basically a household name at this point. You can buy (crappy) bottles and jars of it at Walmart. But the important thing is to differentiate between the cheap, mass-produced versions and these top-quality versions. While most gochujangs on the market are thick, but will drip off your spoon, this one is more like a glossy ganache—spreadable and scoopable, yet decadently thick. It's clean and complex—a wonderful fruity chili flavor is the star, while it's rounded out with funky fermentation notes and a pleasant tingly heat. There's also a hint of effervescence akin to sake, or even a sparkling wine. Its sweetness is round and balanced, not sticky like most brands.

Even basic gochujang, the Korean hot pepper paste that has a savoriness similar to Japanese miso, is a real powerhouse ingredient that we consider an essential element of the Milk Street pantry. But this version from Fromwell builds on gochujang’s typical complexity, adding earthy stir-fried shiitake mushrooms locally harvested in the Korean forest. The result is perfectly balanced, funky, rich and earthy with a light sweetness, punch of spice and appropriate hit of salt. And unlike other gochujangs which are smooth, the addition of mushrooms provides an interesting level of texture and nuance that we loved. Fromwell’s gochujang is also lower in sodium than other brands and contains no added sugar. Use as a base to stews and sauces for an extra boost of savory flavor, in place of regular gochujang in any recipe that calls for it or add right to vegetables or meat like a marinade.

Gochujang is a Korean hot pepper paste that has a savoriness similar to Japanese miso and is fermented with glutinous rice, which gives it a slightly sticky texture and subtle sweetness. It’s a real powerhouse ingredient that we’ve come to rely on and consider an essential element of the Milk Street pantry. Chung Jung One's version has an approachable, mild heat level for adding to everything from tofu stew to barbecue meats.

Handcrafted by a master noodle maker, these multicolored guksu, or Korean noodles, are infused with clean vegetable flavor. Guksu Master Kim Hyun Kyu started his noodle operation in 1987, wanting to add flavor to basic, bland wheat noodles that only supplemented other recipe components. After years of experimenting with ratios, recipes and aging, Kyu developed vibrant, vegetable-forward twists on the classic noodle. These guksu get their distinctive color-true hues and flavor from garlic chives, sweet pumpkin, beets, and white and black rice. And the ingredients are more than natural food coloring; when cooked, the aromatic noodles impart a subtle but noticeable flavor to dishes and retain a pleasant chew. Try them in pasta dishes, Korean preparations—like bibim-guksu, a spicy noodle stir-fry, or kong-guksu, a cold soy milk soup—or boiled and tossed with oil and sea salt.

Made from sun-dried and deseeded Korean hot peppers, gochugaru is essential for Korean staples like kimchi and the hot pepper paste gochujang, not to mention a wide array of marinades, stews and side dishes. Its fruity, earthy flavor and approachable medium heat make it well rounded and adaptable to all manner of recipes in place of store-bought chili powder or chili flakes. These coarsely ground Gochugaru Flakes have a crunchy—not papery—texture and earthy flavor that's perfect for garnishing; try substituting them for regular hot pepper flakes.

A Korean iteration of soy sauce, this condiment originating from the Gyeongsang Province is crafted with exceptional care using traditional techniques. It’s simmered in a gamasot (large iron pot) for six hours with kelp and jujube, which gives the sauce a slightly more decadent consistency. It has soy sauce’s signature hit of umami nuttiness, yet there is a rounder, more distinct depth. There’s also a slight lingering sweetness akin to dark chocolate, which is brought out by the more salty and savory notes. The overall effect is exceptional richness of flavor and intriguing complexity. While cheaper brands generally all taste the same: flat, salty, savory, and one-note, the subtleties of this ganjang really stand-out as especially beautiful.

This fermented soybean paste is made by steeping barley in water for 10 hours before it’s steamed, mixed with soy beans and aged for three years in earthenware pots exposed to the changing seasons. The resulting paste is rich in umami, with a deep nutty-cocoa powder-like taste and incredible clean, clear savory flavor. The thick paste is punctuated with tender flecks of soy or barley grains and has a creamy, yet firm character. It’s a relative of Japanese miso, as both are fermented soybean pastes, but miso is made with koji and rice, which results in more sweetness and an overall lighter character (while still being umami-rich and salty). Doenjang is generally just salt and soy (this one includes barley), which yields a deeper and more intense flavor that we love.

This durably built 0.9-gallon Korean container is designed for fermenting kimchi, sauerkraut or pickles and is a breeze to use. The double lid locks tightly and is effective for containing odors, while the sturdy polypropylene construction scrubs up beautifully. The inner vacuum lid sits snugly on top of the fermenting products, preventing oxygen contact, which can lead to mold growth and spoilage; it also has a small covered valve that you can unseal to vent carbon dioxide buildup during fermentation.

This traditional earthenware bowl (or ddukbaegi) is incredibly multifunctional, used in Korean cooking for simmering stews or making dolsot bibimbap, a popular sizzling rice dish. Safe for stovetop, microwave and oven use, the cookware is made from fine, porous clay that retains heat well but doesn't absorb soaps, chemicals or any off-flavors—plus, it doesn't require seasoning before first use. Korean stoneware has such excellent heat retention that the bowl is actually meant to double as a serving dish, since it keeps food warm as you're eating. A matching lid and heat-insulating trivet with handles make for easy transport to the table, while the double-fired glaze looks sleek and elegant.

We love this finely ground Gochugaru Powder, which has a bright aroma similar to cayenne and can be used as a milder alternative to hot paprika. Made from sun-dried and deseeded Korean hot peppers, gochugaru is essential for Korean staples like kimchi and the hot pepper paste gochujang, not to mention a wide array of marinades, stews and side dishes. Its fruity, earthy flavor and approachable medium heat make it well rounded and adaptable to all manner of recipes in place of store-bought chili powder or chili flakes.

For those put off by the typical pungency of fish sauce, Haeeorim’s Jeju Korean Fish Sauce—a milder, less funky take on the classic staple—may be just the thing. Caught in the waters off of Korea’s Jeju Island by local fisherman, a combination of young and horse mackerel marinate in salt crystals from Jeju before being expertly sealed in traditional Onggi (Korean earthenware pots) for more than a year. After the initial fermentation, a mixture of locally-grown daikon radish, sea kelp from Wando and local mandarin orange are added to the Onggi to add interesting notes of flavor, complexity and a bit of sweetness. After another period of aging and ripening, the resulting sauce is clean without the funk of typical fish sauce— thanks to milder mackerel, a less pungent option than the anchovies typically used for fish sauce, and longer fermenting—yet still full of meaty fish flavor. With a little more sweetness and a lighter touch of salt than most other brands, this fish sauce lends itself beautifully to a variety of dishes, from noodles and vegetables to sauces and marinades.

Minced garlic brings the flavor, but at what cost? It stinks up your cutting board, is sticky and takes time to chop. Enter Trunas One Tablet Chopped Garlic, the freeze-dried version of minced garlic that actually maintains the potent taste, scent and color in a single cube. With zero additives or chemicals, and unlike grocery store renditions that are murky in flavor and slimy when they defrost, Trunas requires only a few drops of water to rehydrate and resemble freshly minced garlic. Quicker, more convenient and easy to store (no freezer required), use these tablets in soups, stews, noodles, marinades, sauces and anywhere else you’d need freshly minced garlic.

Fresh ginger brings the flavor, but at what cost? It’s a pain to peel, is stringy and takes time to chop. Enter Trunas One Tablet Ground Ginger, the freeze-dried version of minced ginger that actually maintains the potent taste, scent and color in a single cube. With zero additives or chemicals, and unlike grocery store renditions that are murky in flavor and slimy when they defrost, Trunas requires only a few drops of water to rehydrate and resemble freshly minced ginger. Quicker, more convenient and easy to store (no freezer required), use these tablets in soups, stews, noodles, marinades, sauces and anywhere else you’d need freshly minced ginger.