Market
Meju flour (powdered meju) is a fermented soybean-based powder used primarily as an intermediate ingredient in Korean fermented sauces and pastes, notably gochujang as well as ganjang (soy sauce) and doenjang (soybean paste). In global trade, it typically moves as a specialty fermented ingredient rather than a bulk flour commodity, and product identity is anchored by the Codex definition of “powdered meju” in the Codex Standard for Gochujang (CXS 294-2023). Production know-how is strongly associated with the Republic of Korea’s jang-making tradition, which UNESCO has recognized as intangible cultural heritage. Trade performance is shaped more by food-safety compliance and fermentation consistency than by classical harvest seasonality for shelf-stable powders.
Major Producing Countries- 대한민국Core origin of jang-making tradition that uses meju as the fermented soybean base; “powdered meju” is defined in Codex for gochujang.
Major Exporting Countries- 대한민국Primary exporting origin for Korean fermented ingredient supply chains linked to jang products.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Powdered fermented material made from soybeans or a mixture of soybeans and grains (powdered meju) used as an ingredient in gochujang and related jang manufacturing.
ProcessingProduced via cooked soybean processing followed by solid-state fermentation and drying prior to milling into powder.Quality outcomes depend on fermentation microbiota and process control, with spontaneous/traditional methods showing higher variability across batches and regions.
Risks
Food Safety HighMycotoxin risk (notably aflatoxins and sometimes ochratoxin A) can arise during the meju stage, and studies have documented natural occurrence and susceptibility of meju to contamination by aflatoxin-producing fungi. This is a deal-breaker for cross-border trade because mycotoxin non-compliance can trigger import rejection, recalls, or supplier delisting.Use validated drying and fermentation controls, enforce incoming-lot and finished-product mycotoxin testing, and align limits and monitoring to Codex contaminants principles and destination-country requirements.
Quality Consistency MediumTraditional meju production commonly relies on spontaneous fermentation with environmental microbiota, which can drive batch-to-batch variability in flavor development and safety-relevant microbiological profiles for downstream products.Qualify suppliers with documented process controls, apply defined fermentation parameters where feasible, and implement microbiological criteria and trend monitoring aligned with Codex guidance.
Regulatory Compliance MediumSoy is a priority allergenic ingredient in many markets; labeling and ingredient declarations for meju-flour-containing foods must meet destination-market requirements, and Codex labelling guidance explicitly covers allergen labelling expectations for pre-packaged foods.Implement allergen management and ensure compliant ingredient/allergen declarations on retail and non-retail packaging in line with Codex labelling guidance and importing-country rules.
Sustainability MediumSoybeans are frequently highlighted in deforestation-linked supply chain scrutiny, and evolving deforestation-related trade rules and buyer policies can affect market access for soy-derived ingredients even when the ingredient is a niche specialty product.Adopt traceable sourcing and deforestation-free verification for upstream soy inputs (where applicable), and maintain documentation suitable for due-diligence audits in regulated markets.
Sustainability- Deforestation and land-conversion concerns linked to global soybean supply chains (particularly relevant where meju flour inputs are sourced from commodity soy streams).
- Emerging trade and due-diligence expectations for deforestation-free supply (e.g., regulations and buyer requirements affecting soy-linked products).
- Land-use-change emissions risk embedded in upstream soybean sourcing, increasing reputational and market-access scrutiny for soy-derived ingredients.
Labor & Social- Land rights and community impacts associated with soy-driven land conversion in sensitive producing ecosystems (e.g., Brazil’s Cerrado), creating upstream social-risk exposure for soy-derived ingredients.
- Small-scale and artisanal fermentation contexts can create uneven food-safety capability across suppliers, increasing the need for buyer-led verification and capacity-building.
FAQ
What is “meju flour” in international product terms?In Codex terminology, it aligns with “powdered meju,” defined as a fermented material of soybeans (or soybeans mixed with grains) produced using microorganisms in a natural state, and it is listed as an optional ingredient in the Codex Standard for Gochujang.
What foods or industries typically use meju flour?Meju-derived ingredients are used in Korean fermented sauces and pastes; Codex explicitly includes powdered meju as an optional ingredient for gochujang, and scientific literature describes meju as a key ingredient base for ganjang (soy sauce) and doenjang (soybean paste).
What is the most critical trade-disrupting risk for meju flour?Food-safety non-compliance from mycotoxins (especially aflatoxins) is a major risk because studies report that the meju stage can be particularly susceptible to contamination by aflatoxin-producing fungi, which can lead to import rejections or recalls.