Vadasz Kimchi

My Experience

So I enjoys kimchi and the sort quite a lot, but finding good, authentic kimchi in a UK supermarket is tough unless you're willing to go to a specialty shop. Vadasz is one of the few options you'll regularly see on the shelves. I've bought it over the years, and while it's pricey at £4.50, you are getting a proper, live fermented product. It's raw, unpasteurised, and continues to age and develop in your fridge, which is a huge plus.

However, because it's a live product, the taste can be inconsistent from batch to batch. The pot I just had was far more tangy than others I've tried. The cabbage was still nice and crunchy and there was a bit of spice, but the sourness really took over and became the main flavour.

Unfortunately, this strong tanginess, along with the high salt content, masked the natural taste of the vegetables. Good kimchi should have a complex, savoury and umami flavour, but this just tasted overwhelmingly of salt and sour. It's a shame when the balance is off like this.

Despite a disappointing pot, it is one of the more authentic kimchi option readily available on a supermarket shelf.