VarietiesC. annuumMediumKorean chili pepper
MediumC. annuumKorea

Korean chili pepper

Korean hot peppers · Korean red · Korean dark green · Korean long green · Gochu · Cheongyang gochu

10,000Scoville Heat Units

Heat context

Carolina Reaper
Ghost Pepper
Habanero
Korean chili…
Botanical data
Heat (SHU)10,000
SpeciesC. annuum
OriginKorea
Days to mature70
Plant height60–90 cm
Wall thicknessThin
Ripe colourred
YieldHeavy
Growth habitBush
Germination7-14
FoliageGreen
Unripe colourgreen

About this variety

Korean chili peppers are slender, medium-length peppers fundamental to Korean cuisine, most famously dried and ground into gochugaru (Korean chili flakes). These versatile peppers vary in heat depending on variety, with some milder types used fresh in dishes and hotter varieties preferred for fermentation and powder. The thin-walled fruits transition from green to vibrant red and are prized for their balanced heat and subtle sweetness.

Flavour profile

sweetmild-to-moderate heatearthyslightly smoky when dried
Culinary scores
Sauce
8/10
Drying
10/10
Pickling
9/10

Culinary uses

Essential for gochugaru (chili flakes) and gochujang (fermented chili paste), used fresh in stir-fries and banchan, pickled for kimchi, and dried whole for soup stocks and Korean stews

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Quick reference

Heat10,000 SHU
SpeciesC. annuum
OriginKorea
Days to ripe70
Ripe colourred
Best forSauce, Drying, Pickling, Essential for gochugaru (chili flakes) and gochujang (fermented chili paste)
Data confidence: 4/5. Sourced from community submissions and verified references. Suggest a correction