Poggi Kimchi is the most traditional form of kimchi, made using whole heads of napa cabbage. The fresh cabbage is first salted with sea salt to draw out moisture, then a seasoning paste of garlic, gochugaru, julienned radish, garlic chives, green onion, anchovy fish sauce, and shrimp sauce is carefully spread between every leaf. In Korean households, families have long gathered in late autumn during the kimjang season to prepare a year's supply of kimchi together — a tradition recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013.
Fermentation is driven by naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria in the seasoning paste, together with the added Leuconostoc DRC0211 culture. In a cool refrigerated environment, these bacteria slowly convert the natural sugars in the vegetables into lactic acid, developing kimchi's characteristic tangy flavour and deep umami complexity. This product is shipped fresh and continues to ferment during refrigerated storage, meaning its flavour deepens and evolves over time.
Just as sauerkraut, aged cheese, and wine develop their character through time and fermentation, kimchi is a living fermented food. From the crisp freshness of a newly opened batch, to the balanced acidity of a few days later, to the rich, deeply sour depth of well-aged kimchi — a single jar reveals many different faces as it matures.