Gochujang (Korean fermented chili paste) became Western cooking staple (2020-2023) through TikTok recipes adding it to everything—pasta, eggs, dips, marinades. K-pop’s global influence and gochujang’s umami-sweet-spicy profile made it trendy alternative to sriracha, with grocery stores expanding Korean sections and brands like Trader Joe’s creating accessible versions.
Sources: Gochujang Sales Growth Data, Korean Food Export Statistics