Cheongyang chili

Ingredient guide

Cheongyang chili 청양고추

Cheongyang gochu is a slim, very spicy Korean green chili. It is sliced into stews, soups and dipping sauces when you want a clean, sharp heat.

Taste

Sharply hot with a fresh, grassy bite; hotter than a jalapeño.

What to look for

Slim, firm green (sometimes red) peppers in Korean markets. Shorter ones are generally hotter.

Storing it

Refrigerate in a paper bag for about a week, or freeze whole for months.

How to find Cheongyang chili, anywhere

Works in any country — look for these names, in these kinds of shops.

Names to look for

  • cheongyang chili
  • Korean hot green pepper
  • cheongyang gochu
  • 청양고추
Show this at the shop청양고추

Where to look

  • Korean grocery stores, fresh produce
  • Asian supermarkets (serrano or Thai chilies as swaps)

Watch out for

  • Mild green Korean peppers (pu-gochu) look similar but are far milder.
  • Remove the seeds to tame the heat.

Can't find Cheongyang chili? Use this instead

Honest swaps, with amounts per unit of the original and how the dish will change.

Serrano pepper

Serrano pepperEasy to find

Same count; seeds in for extra heat

Similar heat and bite, a little thinner-skinned.

Jalapeño + a pinch of gochugaru

Jalapeño + a pinch of gochugaruEasy to find

For each cheongyang: 1 small jalapeño and ⅛ tsp gochugaru

Milder and thicker-fleshed; the gochugaru brings the heat up.

▲ milder at first▼ fresher

Where to buy it near you