Top Shrimp Paste Brands You'll Crave in Your Recipes!

Shrimp paste, a staple in Asian cuisine, adds a distinctive umami flavor to various dishes, making it a sought-after ingredient for culinary enthusiasts around the world. Selecting the best shrimp paste can significantly enhance the taste of your cooking, so knowing which brands offer the highest quality is crucial. From traditional options handmade in coastal villages to modern brands leveraging technology for consistency, the choices available can suit diverse preferences and needs. For those interested in learning about the top brands that consistently deliver outstanding shrimp paste, discover more below.

Illustration of shrimp paste

Best brands of shrimp paste in 2025

Lee Kum Kee

Lee Kum Kee is a renowned brand in the food industry, particularly noted for its high-quality sauces, including shrimp paste. China leads in Lee Kum Kee exports, with 7,076 shipments, and the brand has seen a 3% growth rate in exports from February 2023 to January 2024. Lee Kum Kee's products, such as the Fine Shrimp Sauce, are exported to various countries, including the Philippines, Peru, and Vietnam. The brand holds multiple international certifications, including ISO 9001, ISO 22000, and HACCP, ensuring stringent quality and food safety standards. With over 130 years of heritage, Lee Kum Kee is a symbol of quality and trust in the global food market.

Pantai Norasingh

Pantai Norasingh is renowned as one of the top producers of shrimp paste, known for its high-quality products that cater to diverse culinary needs. The brand's shrimp paste, often mixed with soya bean oil, is highly sought after in international markets, with significant imports recorded in the USA, particularly through ports like New York/Newark and Oakland. In 2024, substantial shipments of Pantai Norasingh's shrimp paste were documented, highlighting the brand's strong presence in the global market. The product's popularity is attributed to its consistent flavor and texture, making it a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike. With a robust distribution network, Pantai Norasingh continues to dominate the shrimp paste industry. For more information on their import activities, visit their profile on ImportKey.

Mama Sita's

Mama Sita's, a renowned brand from the Philippines, is highly regarded for its high-quality food products, including its contributions to traditional Filipino cuisine. While the brand is more famously known for its Kare-Kare Mix and other seasoning blends, it is also appreciated for its role in preserving and promoting Filipino culinary traditions. However, specific data on Mama Sita's production of shrimp paste is not readily available, as the brand is more prominently associated with other products like the Kare-Kare Mix. The brand's products, such as the Kare-Kare Mix, are popular for their ease of use and authentic flavor, making them a staple in many Filipino kitchens. Mama Sita's products are widely available and have been a part of Filipino cuisine for decades.

Trachang

Trachang is a highly regarded brand in the shrimp paste market, known for its high-quality products that are widely available in Asian supermarkets and online. This brand, often mentioned alongside other notable producers, is particularly popular for its authentic Thai shrimp paste, which is a staple in many Southeast Asian cuisines. The Trachang brand is appreciated for its consistent flavor and aroma, making it a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike. In the global shrimp paste market, brands like Trachang contribute significantly to the industry's growth, with the market expected to expand at a notable CAGR from 2024 to 2032. Trachang's products are part of the broader market trend that sees shrimp paste becoming increasingly popular globally.

Por Kwan

Por Kwan is renowned as one of the best producers of shrimp paste, offering a high-quality product that combines shrimp with bean oil. Their shrimp paste, available in a 200g package, contains 42% oil, 32% shrimp, and other ingredients like garlic and soybean sauce powder, making it a versatile addition to various dishes such as tom yum soup or rice. With an energy content of 1975kJ per 100g serving, it is a nutrient-dense condiment. The product is free from trans fat and has a significant amount of saturated fat at 8.5g per 100g. Por Kwan's attention to detail and use of quality ingredients have made their shrimp paste a favorite among consumers.

Thai Kitchen

Even though Thai Kitchen is not specifically highlighted as a leading brand, it is often recognized for its high-quality ingredients in Thai cuisine. In the shrimp paste market, brands like Thai Taste and Pantai Norasin are noted for their prominent presence. Valued at approximately USD 0.3 billion in 2023, the shrimp paste market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% until 2032. Shrimp paste, known for its intense umami flavor, is a crucial ingredient in many Thai dishes, including curry pastes and dips like Nam Prik Gapi. The fermentation process, which can take several months, enhances the flavor and texture of the paste.

Pulo Cuisine

Pulo Cuisine is renowned as one of the best producers of shrimp paste, particularly celebrated for its high-quality products that adhere to traditional methods. The brand uses tiny plankton shrimp, approximately 1 cm in size, mixed with salt and fermented for several weeks to achieve the perfect consistency and flavor. Their production process involves drying the shrimp-salt mixture under sunlight for 1-2 days, followed by pounding and pulverizing, and then fermenting in concrete tanks for up to 6 months. This meticulous process ensures a rich, intense flavor that is highly valued in Southeast Asian cuisine. Pulo Cuisine's products are often highlighted for their stability and long shelf life, with some studies suggesting they can be safely consumed for up to a year after production. For a detailed look into their traditional production techniques, visit the step-by-step photo tour of shrimp paste making.

Kamayan

Kamayan is a prominent brand in the shrimp paste market, known for its high-quality products and strategic business expansion. In the global shrimp paste market, Kamayan, along with other key companies like Thai Taste, is focusing on strengthening its product portfolio and expanding its business presence. The Belacan segment, which includes products from Kamayan, accounted for a noticeable share of the global shrimp paste market in 2023 and is projected to experience significant growth in the near future. The Exclusive Shop segment, where Kamayan products are often found, is expected to expand at a significant CAGR throughout the forecast period from 2024 to 2031. This growth underscores Kamayan's strong market position and consumer preference. For more detailed insights, explore the shrimp paste market report.

Belacan Cap Udang

Belacan Cap Udang is a renowned brand for shrimp paste, known for its high-quality production using 100% fresh shrimp, ensuring a rich umami flavor and light salty taste. This brand follows traditional methods, similar to those used in Malaysia, where belacan is fermented for 6 to 8 weeks and mixed with 4-10% salt to preserve and enhance its flavor. The final product has a thick, sticky consistency and a distinctive shrimp odor, making it a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine. Belacan Cap Udang is regulated to contain at least 15% salt, which helps in avoiding spoilage and maintaining its shelf life without refrigeration. This brand is part of the growing global shrimp paste market, which is projected to experience significant growth in the near future.

Huy Fong Foods

Huy Fong Foods is not a producer of shrimp paste; it is renowned for its sriracha sauce, holding a 10% share of the $1.55 billion hot sauce market in the United States as of 2019. The company, founded by David Tran in 1980, generates over $150 million in revenue and has sold millions of bottles of its signature sriracha sauce annually, with sales exceeding $60 million in 2012. Huy Fong's sriracha sauce is made with red Jalapeno peppers, garlic, and sugar, and is recognized by its distinctive green cap and rooster logo. The company has never relied on advertising, instead growing through word of mouth. Despite recent production issues due to a chili pepper shortage, Huy Fong remains a dominant force in the hot sauce market. Learn more about Huy Fong Foods' journey and its standout products.