Frequently Asked Questions

Black Girl Kimchi is a small-batch fermented food company exploring the connection between Korean fermentation traditions and ingredients found throughout the African diaspora.

We are not reinventing kimchi—we are expanding the conversation about what kimchi can be throughout the diaspora.

This is more than a product. It is a cultural conversation through fermentation.

Our kimchi is handcrafted in small batches using ingredients like collard greens, mustard greens, and okra.

Every jar is thoughtfully prepared, naturally fermented, and made to order. We believe great kimchi cannot be rushed.

Time is our secret ingredient.

Black Girl Kimchi celebrates culture, creativity, and the conversations that happen when food traditions travel, connect, and evolve.

We honor the roots of kimchi while exploring how fermentation can tell stories across communities, histories, and generations.

To ensure quality and freshness, we ship orders Monday through Wednesday only.

Because our products are perishable and shipped cold, we avoid weekend transit whenever possible. This helps prevent your order from sitting in a shipping facility over the weekend.

Because every batch is made to order, please allow approximately 7–14 business days for processing and delivery.

Great fermentation takes time, and we believe the best flavors are worth the wait.

All orders are shipped cold and carefully packed to help maintain freshness during transit.

Because our products are alive and actively fermenting, some changes in flavor and fermentation activity during shipping are completely normal.

Our kimchi is typically fermented for about three days before shipping.

Because kimchi is a living food, fermentation continues after it leaves our kitchen, allowing flavors to deepen and evolve over time.

That is one of the beautiful things about live fermentation.

Fresh kimchi tends to be bright and crisp. As fermentation continues, the flavors become tangier, richer, deeper, and more complex.

Your kimchi evolves with you.

That is completely normal.

Our kimchi is alive and continues fermenting during transit and while refrigerated. Natural fermentation can create pressure, bubbles, and changes in flavor over time.

We recommend chilling before opening and opening slowly.

Do not throw it away. Extra-fermented kimchi is perfect for:

• Fried rice
• Soups and stews
• Eggs
• Noodles
• Grain bowls

Yes. Black Girl Kimchi is a live fermented food and should be refrigerated immediately upon arrival.

For best quality, store between 32°F and 39°F.

• Keep refrigerated.
• Keep vegetables submerged in their natural brine.
• Always use clean utensils.
• Reseal tightly after each use.

Fermentation is natural. Discard your kimchi if you notice:

• Mold or fuzzy growth
• Unusual discoloration
• A strong rotten odor, not the normal tangy fermented aroma

Yes. All Black Girl Kimchi products are vegan and made without fish sauce or seafood ingredients.

Yes. All Black Girl Kimchi products are gluten-free and made without glutenous rice paste.

Yes. We welcome inquiries from retailers, restaurants, and community partners interested in carrying Black Girl Kimchi.

Please contact us for wholesale information.