Black bean paste

Korean cooking ingredients:

Korean: 짜장, 춘장
Romanized Korean: jjajang, chunjang
Wikipedia entry for this ingredient

I use brand name Haechandeul, but sometimes I use a different brand. You make Jja jang myun(black bean noodles) with this.

Posted Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

37 Responses to “Black bean paste”:

jo*rose:

Hi Maangchi,

Is the black bean paste the bean paste used when eating pork kalbi or is it another bean paste?

Regards,
Jo Rose
March 5th, 2008 at 3:21 am
maangchi:

Hi, Jo Rose,
I don’t think so. The black bean paste is not much used for any other side dishes except for jja jang myun.
Thanks,
March 5th, 2008 at 7:07 am
jo*rose:

Hello!

Thanks for the tip! I will not use black bean paste except for jja jang myun in the future. ;)

I tried to google kalbi and was able to find it in wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalbi). It’s mentioned a sauce called ssamjang (쌈장) which was made from doen jaang. So it was actually the soy bean paste, the other bean paste you posted. :)

Take care,
Jo Rose
March 5th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
maangchi:

jo’rose,
check it out my cooking video under “grilled beef” and you will find the recipe for “ssam jaang”.
thanks,
March 5th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
hankyungie:

hi!
im vietnamese so i shop at oriental/chinese markets, but i cannot find the black bean paste? any advice?
May 11th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Maangchi:

Hi,hankyungie
I am sorry to hear that you can’t find the black bean paste for jja jang. All I can say is that you can check out a korean grocery market.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Ivy:

Hi Maangchi,

I was wondering where do you usually shop for your ingredients in Toronto?
May 12th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Maangchi:

ivy,
I usually go to korea town to buy some korean groceries near Christie subway. PAT store. Say hello to me if you see me, plz. ; )
May 13th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Sophia:

hi!

i found your website a couple of weeks ago through youtube, and i’ve been addicted to it ever since. i’ve made the bulgogi, oee sobagi, and kong jang - all delicious!

i went to the korean market yesterday to stock up on ingredients for your recipes, and i was looking for the black bean paste. i didn’t see a container like the one in your picture, but i found some jars labeled black bean fermented next to the gochujang. is this the right one for jja jang myun?

thanks for taking the time to put these recipes online and answer our questions!
June 18th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Maangchi:

Dear Sophia,
Black bean paste is sold either in a container or jar. yes, it’s usally displayed next to gochujang. : )

I think it’ll be ok. To make sure, I suggest you ask the owner of the store if the sauce is for jja jang myeon or not.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Chris rose:

Hi!

I really want to try the korean dish Jja jjang myeon which I always see in korean dramas. =)Thanks for the tutorial. I live in Europe, in Norway. I can’t find any black bean paste in any asian markets here where I live. The only thing they have is “Black bean in garlic sauce”. I don’t think Norway has any korean stores too. I was wondering if you know how to make black bean paste by yourself and teach it to us.

Also, I’ve been searching for korean cookbooks in bookstores here, but i can’t seem to find any recipes for black bean paste.

Thanks for your time!
Chris rose
August 11th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Maangchi:

Hi,Chris rose,
Yes, many people have sent me email that they were inspired to learn how to make jja jang myeon from korean dramas they watch. : )
Unfortunately I don’t know how to make this black bean paste.
Please do more research on the internet to find korean gorcery near you. I wish I could give you information about a reliable on line shopping store.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Tarawr:

Hello, I have several korean markets where I live, the only thing I found was black bean garlic sauce and black bean chili sauce, is that the same thing only a variation maybe? The owner didn’t know what black bean paste was but showed me the sauce.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Maangchi:

Tarawr,
Show the picture of this blackbean paste to your korean grocery owner and tell him or her that you are going to make “ja jang myeon”. They will figure out what you will need.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Vanessa:

Hi, I just saw your website and it is amazing! I live in korea now and will be leaving soon :( Im definately going to cook my own meals when I leave here, thanks to your web site! Do you happen to know the recipe for Budae Jigae “Army based stew”? that’s my favorite!
August 28th, 2008 at 5:03 am
Maangchi:

Vanessa,
It’s nice! Now you can make your favorite Korean food even though you go back to your country. Budae jjigae is not my favorite food, but I will think about including it in my list of upcoming videos.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Jodi:

Hi Maangchi!

Once the chun jang is opened does it need to be refrigerated? How long does it keep for?

Thank you again for all of your great recipes!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Maangchi:

Hello Jodi,
Yes, seal it tightly and put it in the refrigerator. That’s what I’m doing. I can keep it for about 1 month! It’s not going bad because it’s fermented food and very salty.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 am
aisah:

Hi,
I would like to know what are the black bean paste made of cos i can’t consume pork or anythg that is not halal.. so in this case i can only eat thgs that are vegeterian or associated with chicken/seafood.Can u pls help me? thx!

aisah_dami@hotmail.com
September 17th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Maangchi:

aisah,
black bean paste is made of beans and it’s fermented food. I found this now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_noodle_sauce
September 17th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Winny:

Hi maangchi
i just have a question, do you have to keep the paste in the refrigerator? or you can just keep it in room temperature?
thank you
September 21st, 2008 at 8:26 am
Maangchi:

Winny,
I keep it in the refrigerator once I open it.
September 21st, 2008 at 8:36 am
Jajangmyeon « Language Lessons:

[...] moving to - SA - will have a Korean-owned Chinese restaurant. Critical to jajangmyeon is chunjang or black bean [...]
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 am
Jenny:

Hi, I was just wondering, since I don’t have a korean market nearby, I’ll be searching at asian markets. Where do you find your chunjang? Is it in the refrigerated section, or does it not need to be refrigerated, and found in a non-refrigerated section? Thanks :]
October 13th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Maangchi:

Jenny,
You will get it at a Korean grocery store. It’s usually sold near paste ingredients such as hot pepper paste and soy bean paste.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:11 am
Zaida:

Hi, I have been trying to find a Korean on line store and have not been able to find one. Do you know of any?
Thanks.
October 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Maangchi:

Zaida,
Where are you living? Check this out
http://www.maangchi.com/talk/topic/where-to-buy-korean-ingredients-online
October 25th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Porkhee:

hey i have a question.
what type of noodle do you use to make jja jang myun?
i been craving them for like years and i want to know what type so i can make them.
also, when i go into an oriental store, i have trouble finding the black bean paste. can someone help me?
December 1st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Maangchi:

Porkhee,

check out the photo of the noodles.
http://www.maangchi.com/ingredients/jja-jjang-myun-noodles

I used the same noodles for the most recent recipe video jjamppong.

You can photocopy the photo of black bean paste and take it to a Korean store then.
December 1st, 2008 at 7:50 pm
HangukSarang:

Hi, first I would like to say that I love your website! I’ve been watching your recipe videos at youtube, and learning how to make many yummy korean dishes. Thanks so much for sharing them with those of us who can’t visit korea.

I was wondering if you knew how to make black bean, and red bean paste? I would like to make them at home so that I don’t have to buy them as often. Thank you!
December 25th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Nishu:

hi maangchi i love every dish you make i live in india
i m very lucky that korean grocery store is near my home keep making these delecious korean delacrisies and someday plz come to india:)
December 26th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Maangchi:

HangukSarang,
Please check this. I don’t know how to make black bean paste, either.

http://www.maangchi.com/ingredients/hot-pepper-paste-gochujang
December 26th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Maangchi:

Nishu,
Yes, I am hoping to visit India someday!
I’m glad to hear that you have no problem with finding Korean ingredients. It will be wonderful if you leave the information about the Korean grocery store on the forum here. http://www.maangchi.com/talk/forum/where-to-buy-korean-cooking-ingredients
December 26th, 2008 at 8:07 am
HangukSarang:

Thank you Maangchi
December 26th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Nishu:

hey maangchi i am not able to send information there so i m sending here adress of korean store in New Delhi ,India

{A-Mart korean grocery store}
A-1 Mahipalpur Extension, NH8, New Delhi Phn No. ->2678-9999
OR
INA market (South Delhi)
Or

There japanese store that have some things that can be used in korean cooking like
Kelp
Kim(nori)
Short Grain Rice
Soy sauce
etc..
And varieties of every meat and fishes + seafood
the is store is
Yamato-YA (B-6/9 Local Commercial Complex, Safdarjung Enclave (4165-0164). Daily 10am-7.30pm.)
December 27th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Maangchi:

Nishu,
oh, thank you very much. I am going to post the information on the forum then. Thanks a lot.
December 27th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Nishu:

oh its my plesure actually you are the only one which i have to thank that you show so much nice vds and with details thnks so much

and wish you a very very very Happy New year may this year will be 2 much lucky for you
December 27th, 2008 at 11:20 am

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