Best kimchi in the UK reviewed
Last updated: 08 December 2025
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of some of the UK’s best and most popular kimchi, including ones from Vadasz, Ollie’s, M&S, Biona, The North Shop, Eaten Alive, Kim Kong, Peichin's Table and Loving Foods.
We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition and flavour of these popular kimchi.
You might also be interested in reading our popular article on the best probiotics in the UK if you want to add more healthy microbes to your diet.
What is kimchi?
Kimchi is a traditional Korean food made by fermenting cabbage, spring onion and other vegetables.
It is unpasteurised, so it naturally contains live cultures from the fermentation process, and it also provides fibre from the vegetables themselves.
Best kimchi overall in the UK
Vadasz kimchi
Vadasz kimchi is a vegan kimchi with simple, natural ingredients. Being vegan means it doesn’t include fish sauce or shrimp paste as a traditional kimchi would.
The ingredients are: Chinese leaf cabbage, carrots, spring onion, sea salt, chilli powder, ginger and garlic.
It also doesn’t include any added sugar, thickeners, flavour enhancers or preservatives which are sometimes found in commercial kimchi.
Flavour
The aroma is complex, with cabbage, garlic and a citrus hint showing most.
The flavour is also complex and not easy to describe! It has a lovely deep chilli flavour which is not too spicy. It also has lovely refreshing lemony sourness which very well with the chilli. And the garlic and ginger provide a deep background flavour.
Despite there being no traditional umami-giving ingredients (eg fish sauce), it isn’t obviously lacking in this area at all.
Overall, the taste is very good. It’s moreish, refreshing and satisfying.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 400g jar from Tesco or Sainsburys for £4.50.
Summary
Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Vadasz kimchi is a great tasting vegan kimchi with simple, natural ingredients.
Pros
lovely, complex taste
natural ingredients
source of vitamins from the vegetables
contains ginger and garlic
very low in sugar
Cons
not a wholly ‘traditional’ kimchi which would include fish products (if that bothers you)
Read our full review of Vadasz kimchi.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Runner up kimchi
M&S classic kimchi
M&S classic kimchi is great, but it is not really a ‘classic’ kimchi because it doesn’t contain fish sauce or shrimp paste like a traditional kimchi would. It is better called a vegan kimchi.
The ingredients are: napa cabbage (66%), radish (10%), carrots (10%), garlic, red chillies, tamari soy sauce (water, soybeans, salt, vinegar), miso (water, soybeans, rice, salt), onions, ginger, salt and dried kombu seaweed.
So instead of using a fish product for umami flavours, this vegan kimchi uses miso, soy sauce and seaweed.
In summary, it’s a very natural kimchi and doesn’t include any added sugar, thickeners, flavour enhancers or preservatives.
Flavour
The aroma is rich and complex, with the ginger and maybe some miso coming through most. There’s a lot going on and it’s quite hard to describe adequately!
The flavour is also very deep and complex (and again hard to convey in words). There’s a lot of umami notes and a nice, deep chili flavour that is medium hot. There’s also nice lemony acidity and a good crunch from the various vegetables.
Overall, the taste is excellent. It’s rich, satisfying and very moreish. They have done a great job and providing a very umami flavour in a vegan kimchi without fish products. My only minor criticism is that there’s perhaps a little too much carrot and not enough radish.
Cost and availability
We bought a 275g jar from M&S for £4 - which is on the more expensive end of the market.
Summary
Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: M&S classic kimchi is a vegan kimchi with a brilliant complex flavour.
Pros
excellent, complex taste
natural ingredients
source of fibre
source of vitamins and minerals from the vegetables
contains ginger, garlic and kombu seaweed
very low in sugar
Cons
more expensive than others
not really a ‘classic’ kimchi with fish products (if that bothers you)
Read our full review of M&S classic kimchi.
Best whole-leaf style kimchi
Peichin's Table vegan kimchi
Peichin's Table vegan kimchi is a great choice if you want a traditional pogi (or whole-leaf) kimchi. More on this in our full review.
This is a traditional kimchi except that it doesn’t include any fish product like fish sauce or salted shrimp.
The ingredients are Napa cabbage, spring onion, carrots, daikon, onions, ginger, garlic, gochugaru, glutinous rice, sugar, pear and kelp.
It doesn’t include any flavour enhancers or preservatives.
Flavour
The aroma is typically complex with spring onion, garlic, ginger and lemon characteristics coming through most.
The taste is also nice and complex. You get a lovely deep chilli taste which has a moderate heat that builds over time. The ginger and garlic are also prominent. There’s a decent amount of umami, especially considering there’s no fish sauce or similar. The acidity is low to moderate.
The texture is lovely and crunchy - and not at all soggy.
Overall, the flavour is very good and the texture is spot on.
Cost and availability
We bought a 450g jar from an organic store for £8.50.
Summary
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Peichin's Table vegan kimchi uses traditional ingredients (minus fish sauce) and has a lovely flavour and texture. It is expensive though.
Pros
traditional ingredients
contains ginger and garlic
made in the traditional whole-leaf pogi style
source of fibre
source of vitamins and minerals from the vegetables
nice, complex flavour
great texture
suitable for vegans
Cons
no information on sugar content
very expensive
Most interesting kimchi
Loving Foods Hot ‘n’ Smoky Kimchi
Loving Foods Hot ‘n’ Smoky Kimchi is an organic, vegan kimchi with a unique flavour.
Specifically it contains: cabbage, pak choi, radish, spring onions, ginger, chilli, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic, tamari (soy sauce) and Celtic sea salt.
In case you were wondering, the tamari is added to give a deep umami flavour.
It is a very clean product and doesn’t contain any concerning additives.
Flavour
The aroma is quite complex with the smoked paprika and cayenne pepper primarily coming through.
The taste is equally complex. Initially you get the heat of the chilli and cayenne pepper as well as the ginger, followed by a deep smoky taste and finishing with the slight funkiness of the fermented cabbage and other vegetables. But as the heat and other flavours build on the palate you notice the funkiness less and less. You also sometimes get a strong hit of spring onion.
The spiciness is at a good level for me (as someone who doesn’t like things too spicy). It’s a nice light to moderate heat which doesn’t build to overpowering as you eat more.
Overall, I think the taste works very well. It is deep, multi-layered and moreish.
Cost and availability
A 475g jar costs £7.95.
Summary
4.75 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Loving Foods Hot ‘n’ Smoky Kimchi is a unique, delicious and addictive vegan kimchi which is also organic.
Pros
great, unique taste
organic and free of any concerning additives
source of vitamins from the many vegetables
contains ginger and garlic
source of fibre
Cons
more expensive than others (but as you would expect from an organic, small batch, live product)
it’s not a strictly traditional kimchi (if that bothers you)
Best traditional kimchi in the UK
The North Shop kimchi
The North Shop kimchi would be a decent choice for those who love spicy food - and maybe not the best choice for others.
It’s also important to note this is not a vegan kimchi, but a traditional kimchi which includes fish sauce.
This ingredients are Chinese cabbage, daikon, carrot, spring onion, gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes), ginger, garlic, sea salt, fish sauce and soft brown sugar.
It doesn’t include any thickeners, flavour enhancers or preservatives.
Flavour
The aroma is multifaceted, with garlic, ginger, chilli and a lemony tang showing most.
The flavour is fairly complex, with the ginger and the strong chilli most prominent - along with the occasional hit of spring onion. The heat is above what you would usually get in a kimchi made in the UK. There a nice crunch to the ingredients and it has a moderate acidity.
Overall, the taste is pretty good, but it lacks depth which is surprising considering it uses fish sauce. Personally, I think it is too spicy though and goes well beyond the usual warming, mellow heat of kimchi.
Cost and availability
We bought a 480g jar from an organic store for £7.95.
Summary
Rating: 4 stars out of 5.
Verdict: The North Shop kimchi is a traditional kimchi with a fiery kick which would be too much for some. The taste is good, but it lacks a bit of depth. And it is expensive.
Pros
traditional ingredients
source of fibre
source of vitamins from the vegetables
contains ginger, garlic and gochugaru
very low in sugar
good taste…
Cons
…but the taste lacks depth somewhat
will be too spicy for some
expensive
Read our full review of The North Shop kimchi.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Other kimchi in the UK
Ollie’s kimchi
Ollie's kimchi is a good choice if you want a vegan kimchi with big umami flavour - and you don’t mind it salty.
It is a vegan kimchi which uses soy sauce and miso for umami flavour, rather than fish sauce or similar.
This kimchi is made with napa cabbage, daikon, shallot, carrot, spring onion, ginger, gochugaru chilli flakes, soy sauce (soybeans, wheat, salt, sugar), garlic, miso (barley miso (barley, soybeans, salt) and rice miso (soybeans, rice, salt), glutenous starch syrup, ethanol, flavourings) and glutenous rice flour.
It also doesn’t include any flavour enhancers or preservatives.
Flavour
The aroma is very rich with deep chilli and soy sauce coming through. You also get ginger and garlic fairly strongly.
The first thing I noticed about the taste was the high salt content. Otherwise you get a lot of rich umami flavour with a warming heat following. It’s a very complex flavour with huge depth - and it’s hard to pick flavours out and describe it adequately but sometimes you get a strong hit of ginger or spring onion.
The acidity is moderate and there’s a nice crunch to the cabbage.
Overall, the taste is very good, deep and satisfying BUT it is too salty.
Cost and availability
We bought a 350g jar from an organic store for £6.99.
Summary
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Ollie's kimchi is a vegan kimchi with a lot of umami depth. While the taste is very satisfying, it is too salty.
Pros
source of vitamins from the vegetables
contains ginger, garlic and chilli
suitable for vegans
good texture
lovely deep, rich umami flavour…
Cons
…but it is too salty
some non-traditional ingredients (if that bothers you)
very expensive
Read our full review of Ollie's kimchi.
Eaten Alive classic kimchi
Eaten Alive classic kimchi is not a bad choice, but it’s value compared to some other brands is questionable.
This kimchi includes a mixture of traditional and non-traditional ingredients. More on this in our full review.
The ingredients are Chinese leaf (aka napa cabbage or Chinese cabbage), carrot, daikon, spring onion, salt, apple, red chilli, tamari soy sauce (soybeans, water and salt), chilli powder, ginger, garlic and starter cultures.
It doesn’t include any thickeners, flavour enhancers or preservatives.
It is also important to note this kimchi isn’t traditionally wild fermented. Wild fermentation is driven by the natural lactic acid bacteria already present on the cabbage and in the environment. Adding commercial starter cultures, as in this kimchi, is a modern practice used to standardise fermentation and flavour consistency.
So it’s unclear how inoculating this kimchi with starter cultures affects its microbial diversity compared with a traditionally wild-fermented version. Some introduced strains may dominate and reduce the overall diversity of microbes.
Flavour
The aroma is typical of kimchi - very complex and mostly of ginger, garlic and lemon.
The flavour is fairly complex, but not as much as some others. You get an umami character at the end which is a little bit earthy. The acidity is moderate as is the chilli heat. There are fairly large chunks of cabbage which give it a good crunch, but there are perhaps too many stems of the cabbage.
Overall, the taste is good and not flawed in any way, but it isn’t as satisfying or as deep as kimchi can be.
Cost and availability
We bought a 375g jar from an organic store for £7.49.
Summary
Rating: 3.25 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Eaten Alive Classic Kimchi isn’t a truly traditional kimchi, as it’s made with added starter cultures and includes some non-traditional ingredients. The flavour, while certainly not bad, isn’t quite as satisfying as kimchi can be. Ultimately, the value it provides is questionable given the high cost.
Pros
source of fibre
source of vitamins from the vegetables
contains ginger, garlic and chilli
very low in sugar
approachable level of heat (however some might find it too mild)
suitable for vegans
Cons
made with starter cultures, rather than traditional wild fermentation
some non-traditional ingredients (if that bothers you)
taste is a little underwhelming
very expensive
Read our full review of Eaten Alive classic kimchi.
Kim Kong kimchi
Kim Kong kimchi doesn’t present a compelling case to purchase with an average taste and high price.
This is essentially a traditional-style kimchi but made with Japanese miso for umami flavour instead of fish sauce or shrimp paste. It is a vegan-friendly fusion rather than a strictly traditional kimchi.
The ingredients are Chinese leaf (aka napa cabbage or Chinese cabbage), spring onion, carrot, gochugaru (chilli flakes), aka miso [soybean, rice, yeast, ethyl alcohol, koji, salt], ginger, garlic, salt and sugar.
It doesn’t include any thickeners, flavour enhancers or preservatives.
Flavour
The aroma is complex with ginger, garlic, lemon and chilli characteristics coming through most.
However, the flavour lacks the complexity and depth of other kimchi. You mostly get a moderate chilli heat and garlic, but there is not much umami character. There’s also a lot more liquid than other kimchi and this might be why the vegetables are soggy and lack a crunch. The acidity is moderate.
Overall, the taste is quite underwhelming and the mouthfeel is similar.
Cost and availability
We bought a 330g jar from an organic store for £5.99.
Summary
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Kim Kong kimchi is a fairly traditional kimchi but the flavour is underwhelming and the cost is high.
Pros
fairly traditional ingredients (with the exception of miso)
source of fibre
source of vitamins from the vegetables
contains ginger, garlic and chilli
low in sugar
suitable for vegans
Cons
taste is underwhelming
soggy texture
very expensive
Read our full review of Kim Kong kimchi.
Biona kimchi
Biona kimchi does not contain any probiotics or other live cultures as it has been pasteurised after fermentation to make it shelf stable at room temperature. Therefore, there are better kimchi options out there.
The ingredients are a mix of traditional and non-traditional.
It includes napa cabbage (30%), white cabbage (28%), carrots (20%), radish, onion, tomatoes (from concentrate), sea salt, ginger, bell pepper, garlic and chilli (<1%).
Tomatoes and bell pepper are not typical ingredients in a kimchi.
In summary, it’s a vegan and organic kimchi and doesn’t include any added sugar, thickeners, flavour enhancers or preservatives.
Flavour
The aroma is fairly complex, with garlic and ginger showing most. It also has the usual lemony aroma found in kimchi.
The flavour is also multifaceted. Most apparent is a high acidity which is almost puckering. Behind all the vegetables is a solid base of garlic and ginger. Otherwise there’s a medium to high heat, but not much umami character or depth. There’s a good crunch to some ingredients, but others feel soggy.
Overall, the taste is fine enough but nothing to write home about. The lacking umami character does indeed make it a bit underwhelming and not as satisfying as kimchi usually is.
Cost and availability
You can buy a 350g jar from Tesco for £5.20 - which is very expensive by any measure, and frankly bordering on ridiculous for a shelf stable kimchi which isn’t a living product.
Summary
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Biona kimchi is a pasteurised kimchi which means it doesn’t contain probiotics - usually a key reason for eating kimchi. Otherwise the taste is fine but lacks depth. And the price is far too high.
Pros
organic ingredients
source of fibre
source of nutrients from the vegetables
contains ginger and garlic
Cons
contains no live cultures
lacks umami flavour and depth
very expensive for what it offers
uses some non-traditional ingredients such as tomatoes and bell pepper
Read our full review of Biona kimchi.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Benefits of kimchi
Live cultures
Kimchi is a living, unpasteurised product, so it contains the live microbes that grow and multiply naturally during fermentation.
Because kimchi is typically made through a wild or natural fermentation process – using the microbes already present on the vegetables, other ingredients and equipment – the exact strains and quantities aren’t known. Although this kind of fermentation typically results in a broad mix of microbes.
Fibre
Kimchi’s various vegetables contain fibre which reach the large intestine where it can be fermented by gut microbes. This dietary fibre supports regular bowel function.
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are compounds produced by microbes during fermentation.
Fermentation produces a range of postbiotic compounds in kimchi, including lactic acid, small amounts of short-chain fatty acids, exopolysaccharides and various antioxidant metabolites from the vegetables.
Garlic
Garlic provides nutrients such as vitamin B6, vitamin C, manganese and selenium. It also contains antioxidant compounds which help counter everyday oxidative stress and support general cellular protection.
Ginger
Ginger also provides antioxidant compounds such as gingerols and shogaols.
Vegetables
Kimchi is a good source of vegetables and usually contains cabbage, carrot, onion and spring onion.
These vegetables provide vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin K, B6 and folate, along with minerals like potassium and small amounts of calcium and manganese.
Kimchi can also include radish, daikon and other vegetables.
Uses for kimchi
Kimchi is great as a side dish to many meals and excellent with any form of breakfast eggs. It is fantastic in a kimchi cheese toastie - which I personally think is the most comforting vegetarian snack there is!
Otherwise it could go on burgers, wraps, Mexican food, soups, salads and much more.
Factors we consider in our ratings
The factors we consider when doing a review (and the weightings of each of these) may vary depending on the product we are testing, but here are the key general factors we consider when we settle on a rating for a product.
Health benefits
We find out how the product will be good for your health and outline the benefits for you in simple language. This often involves doing research so you don’t have to. We often link to scientific studies or articles summarising scientific findings so you can dig deeper if you want to.
Things detrimental to health
We want to highlight where a product might include something bad for your health - even if it might be good for you in another way. This could include such things as pointing out certain additives it contains or high sugar levels.
How it’s made
This will vary depending on the product, but we want to see a quality process for making it and quality ingredients. For example, we want to see a kombucha traditionally fermented with lots of different microbial strains and we want to see a yoghurt made with fresh milk and not milk powders.
Price
While we expect quality products to be more expensive, they still have to be priced within reason. On the other side of things, a product which is priced very competitively will get a ratings boost based on the value it provides.
Flavour
For some products flavour won’t be a factor (eg probiotic tablets), but for others, like yoghurt or kimchi, flavour is a key aspect because these products are made to be enjoyed as well as being healthy! We will try to be as subjective as possible and describe the flavour in detail so you can get an idea of whether you would like it or not.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Your reviewer
This review was written by Travis, founder of Hello Gut Health.
A long-time gut health writer and advocate with over ten years of experience exploring the science of the microbiome and fermentation.
He combines careful research with practical testing to help readers make informed, trustworthy choices.
He has reviewed over 150 gut health products.
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