bibigo Gochujang Hot Pepper Paste joins the top 2% of products with a three-star rating, as the Korean food brand secures seven accolades in total at this year’s prestigious UK competition.
CJ Foods has announced that its bibigo™ Korean food range has secured seven accolades at Great Taste Awards 2026, marking the brand’s best-ever performance at the UK’s most prestigious blind-tasted food competition.
Great Taste is the UK’s leading blind-tasted food and drink accreditation scheme, with entries judged purely on flavour by a panel of independent food experts, and star ratings awarded from one to three depending on quality.
This year, around 15,000 products were entered into the awards, with 28.50% achieving one star, 10.61% achieving two stars, and just 2.03% earning the coveted three-star rating – underlining how selective the competition remains, particularly among the UK’s established food brands that enter every year.
Against this backdrop, bibigo’s haul of seven awards – four one-star, two two-star, and one three-star – represents a significant leap forward for the brand internationally.
Three-Star Winner: bibigo Gochujang Hot Pepper Paste (500g)
The standout achievement of this year’s campaign was the three-star award for bibigo Gochujang Hot Pepper Paste (500g), placing it among the top 2.03% of all products judged.
Describing the product, the judging panel praised its “vibrant but natural appearance”, noting that it delivered the texture and aroma expected of a great gochujang, with “clear notes of soy on the nose”. They highlighted a “bold heat that lingers on the palate with depth and complexity”, alongside a “solid level of natural umami” achieved through fermentation, which brought a balanced lactic tang and acidity. One judge remarked simply: “I have no notes” – a rare and emphatic endorsement.
Judges also praised the sauce’s thick, glossy texture and the way its fermented soy character worked “brilliantly with the chillies, adding dimension, character and flavour”, concluding that the product’s “fabulously rich, red appearance” and expertly balanced sweetness and acidity made it “gochujang that stands well above its competitors.”
Two-Star Winners:
bibigo Ssamjang Soybean Paste (500g) impressed judges with its rich red colour, thick texture and pleasant soybean aroma, delivering “a real umami kick” alongside a “pleasingly crunchy” texture. Panellists noted a well-balanced flavour profile of sweetness, salt, heat and umami, with one judge calling it “a simply delicious, innovative product” and highlighting its versatility as a base for curries or stir-fries.
bibigo Seaweed Chips proved a hit with the panel, who admitted to eating “an entire bowl” before formal judging began. Judges described the product as “curly, green on one side and golden on the other”, with a light batter that balanced the taste of seaweed beautifully. They noted it was “very moreish” and compared its texture to umami prawn crackers, concluding it was “just delicious” and celebrated its innovation within the snack category.
One-Star Winners:
- bibigo Seaweed Snacks (Wasabi Flavor) – Judges praised the “evenly-sized, thin slices” and the pleasant initial punch of heat from the wasabi, which gave way to well-balanced, vegetal seaweed notes.
- bibigo Chicken & Vegetable Gyoza – Described as generously sized and well filled, with an umami-rich, well-seasoned flavour and a “juicy, welcoming bite”.
- bibigo Beef Bulgogi Gyoza – Judges found the dumplings “deceptively delicious”, with a meaty, generous texture and a moreish gentle beef flavour lifted by spring onion.
- bibigo Gochujang Red Pepper Sauce (Squeezable) – Praised for its “deep ruby red” colour and silky mouthfeel, with an inviting fermented aroma and well-balanced chilli warmth.
CJ’s beloved bibigo Korean food products are available to purchase at major grocery chains across the UK and Europe, as well as at Korean supermarkets throughout the region.
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