Gochugaru (Korean Red Pepper Flakes)

Gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) is a coarse, bright-red chili flake made from sun-dried Korean peppers with most seeds removed. It delivers moderate, clean heat with a fruity, slightly sweet profile, and the pliant flakes bloom in oil to stain sauces a deep red; common in kimchi, jjigae, stir-fries, marinades, and for finishing; sold from coarse flakes to fine grind.

Cultivated and processed in Korea, it became a cornerstone of Korean cuisine after chiles spread through East Asia in the late 16th century. Producers typically sun-dry taeyangcho peppers, deseed, then flake or grind before packaging for domestic use and export.