Spam debuts new Korean gochujang flavour

US – Meat specialist Hormel Foods has expanded its Spam brand with the launch of Spam gochujang. The launch is a limited-edition variety available in an eight-pack exclusively at Costco wholesale warehouses for £18.04 ($23.99, €21.50). Gochujang is a fermented, spicy red chilli paste and a staple ingredient in Korean cuisine.  

Spam Gochujang combines spicy, sweet, smoky and umami flavour notes. It can be used in traditional recipes such as kimbap, so-tteok so-tteok and budae jjigae as well as to bring a flavourful twist to eggs, musubi and ramen.  

Explaining why the company chose to focus on this flavour, Jennesa Kinscher, Spam’s senior brand manager, said, ‘The choice to feature gochujang as a flavour for this latest Spam brand release was inspired by its rising popularity in the US, with more people embracing its bold, rich taste. As a key ingredient in many Korean recipes, gochujang has become a favourite among younger consumers seeking adventurous global flavours.’

In our Functional Feasting macrotrend report, we analysed how young people are increasingly moving towards bold and unexpected flavours.