If you’ve ever visited a Korean restaurant or an Asian supermarket, then you may have noticed that they sell jars of kimchi or offer it as a side dish. Kimchi originated over 4,000 years ago and is a traditional Korean food that’s made from fermented cabbage and other vegetables.
Traditionally, kimchi is 100% plant-based. It’s a great source of natural vegan probiotics (which can improve your gut health), and is a great way to get a full serving of vitamins and minerals!
Below, I’ll show you why vegans should start incorporating more kimchi into their diet and show you some of the best vegan kimchi brands, so you know what to shop for.
Are you ready to try an ancient superfood?
Is Kimchi Good For Vegans?
Kimchi is an excellent food for vegans (and everybody else, for that matter) to consume! Each serving of kimchi is not only packed with natural vitamins and minerals found in cabbage and other vegetables but it’s also loaded with natural probiotics.
Probiotics are “good” bacteria that help our bodies digest food, fight infection, and prevent the “bad” bacteria from taking over and making us sick.
Consuming probiotics is a great way to improve your digestion, combat acid reflux, improve your body’s natural immunity, and even improve your skin! It can also keep your urinary tract healthy and prevent UTIs.
Is Kimchi Naturally Vegan?
Realistically, you don’t really need to shop for special “vegan” kimchi, as kimchi is naturally vegan! However, there are some companies that sell kimchi that’s mixed with seafood or contain fish sauce. So, make sure you’re just buying the raw kimchi.
Historically, kimchi has always been a pure plant-based food. It’s simply sliced cabbage that’s covered in salt, mixed with a spicy paste, and then allowed to naturally ferment.
The salt acts as a natural preservative and helps to draw out the water in the vegetables, allowing good bacteria and probiotics to start forming.
The Best Vegan Kimchi Brands To Try In 2024
Kimchi is a great superfood to start adding to your diet. The taste may not be for everybody.
However, if you mix it with the right foods (my favorite is rice), then it can be quite delicious. It’s also incredibly healthy, so you may as well give it a try! I make it my goal to eat at least one serving of kimchi per week.
So, if you’re ready to take your gut health to the next level, then be sure to check out one of the best vegan kimchi brands listed below!
1) Madge’s Spicy Vegan Kimchi (link)
- Taste Rating: 8/10
If you like spicy kimchi, then Madge’s Spicy Vegan Kimchi is a great brand that I recently tried. Unlike some of the other so-called “spicy” kimchi brands I’ve tried, this brand actually has some heat to it.
So, make sure you have a cold glass of water on standby! Mixing it down with a bowl of rice is another great way to reduce the kick of the spicy chili.
Each serving of Madge’s Vegan Kimchi is unpasteurized and contains billions of healthy probiotics, so it’s as raw and all-natural as it gets.
Another thing I really like about this kimchi is that it’s 100% sugar-free. Some modern kimchi brands are adding sugar to their kimchi to make it better-tasting and more appealing to the masses.
However, sugar is inherently unhealthy and takes away from the natural nutritious value of kimchi, so I don’t personally like it.
If you’re looking for delicious, spicy, small-batch kimchi, then you can’t go wrong with this brand!
What I Like About It:
- Sugar-free.
- It’s actually spicy.
- Unpasteurized.
- Small-batch.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- It’s a bit expensive, considering the package size.
2) Choi’s Kimchi Co., Spicy Napa Cabbage Kimchi (link)
- Taste Rating: 10/10
Choi’s Kimchi Co. makes some truly delicious kimchi. I know of several local Korean restaurants that actually use this brand of kimchi in their food, so it’s definitely good quality.
Unlike Madge’s small-batch kimchi, this large three-and-a-half-pound bag of kimchi comes at a bulk discount, so it’s great for those of you who really love kimchi.
The only disadvantage is that it’s sold in a bag. So, you might need to buy a large jar or another airtight container to store it in if you don’t plan on eating it all on the same day.
Choi’s Spicy Napa Cabbage Kimchi is made with real napa cabbage, garlic, daikon radish, onions, green onions, red chili peppers, sea salt, and natural cane sugar.
The cane sugar used by this brand is 100% vegan, as it’s not refined with animal bone char. If you’re looking for spicy-sweet kimchi, then this one definitely fits the bill!
What I Like About It:
- It’s spicy and sweet.
- It’s made with raw, unrefined cane sugar instead of white sugar.
- It contains red chili peppers for a spicy kick.
- It’s affordable.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- Doesn’t come in a resealable container.
- Contains sugar, which some may not appreciate.
3) Wildbrine Korean-Style Kimchi (link)
- Taste Rating: 9/10
I first tried Wildbrine Korean-Style Kimchi from a local health food grocery store that was selling it. After my local store stopped carrying it, though, I started buying it from Amazon.
It’s some really great-tasting kimchi that comes at an affordable price. Plus, I really like the jars that it’s sold in!
Like Madge’s kimchi, Wildbrine kimchi is sugar-free. It’s made with napa cabbage, sea vegetables (similar to seaweed), green onions, chili pepper, water, sea salt, sesame seeds, ginger, and garlic.
The added ginger and garlic give this kimchi a really strong flavor. If you’re new to kimchi, then you might find this a bit overpowering. On the other hand, if you’re a hardened kimchi lover, then you’ll love this more complex flavor!
What I Like About It:
- Added garlic and ginger give it a complex flavor.
- 100% sugar-free.
- Slightly spicy, but not too spicy.
- Contains super-healthy sea vegetables.
- Affordable.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- The strong taste may be a bit off-putting for those who are new to the food.
4) Chongga Mat Kimchi (link)
- Taste Rating: 8/10
If you’re looking for an authentic Korean brand of kimchi, then Chongga Mat Kimchi is worth checking out. This brand is commonly sold in Asian supermarkets, but can also be purchased online if you don’t have one near you.
This lightly spicy kimchi is made with napa cabbage, radish, xanthan gum, red pepper powder, salt, garlic, onion, yeast extract, and sugar.
The only ingredient that I don’t like on this list is the xanthan gum. Although it’s naturally derived, it’s a highly processed food additive. I’m also not sure why yeast is used, but I assume it’s to give it a more savory flavor or to aid in the fermentation process.
Overall, though, the kimchi tastes delicious and is great if you’re looking for something that’s authentic!
What I Like About It:
- Authentic kimchi imported from South Korea.
- Mildly sweet and spicy.
- Added yeast gives it a more savory flavor.
What’s Not-So-Great:
- It contains xanthan gum, a highly processed food additive.
The Verdict – What’s The Best Vegan Kimchi Brand?
Of all the vegan kimchi brands I’ve tried, I’d have to say that Madge’s Spicy Vegan Kimchi is the best I’ve had. I love the spicy kick and I really appreciate the fact that it’s sugar-free.
This means I can eat as much kimchi as I want without having to worry about a sugar crash! It tastes amazing mixed with a bit of rice or mixed in with a veggie stir-fry.
If you like kimchi, then you may also enjoy natto – a probiotic-rich Japanese delicacy that’s made from fermented soybeans. Check out my last post on natto to learn more about this awesome fermented superfood!
