Introduction

Coin yuksu (코인육수) are small, coin-shaped tablets of compressed Korean broth ingredients. “Yuksu” means stock, and these tablets are a shortcut to the classic anchovy-kelp broth that forms the base of countless Korean soups and stews. Drop one into boiling water, wait a few minutes, and you have a savory, seafood-scented stock without straining a pot of dried anchovies. They have become a pantry staple for busy Korean home cooks and are now easy to find abroad.

Coin Yuksu at a Glance

Quick facts

• What it is: compressed broth tablets that dissolve in boiling water
• Main ingredients: dried anchovy, kelp, shrimp or other seafood, dried vegetables, salt
• Taste: clean, savory and lightly briny, like homemade anchovy stock
• Main uses: soups, stews, noodle broths, tteokbokki, steamed eggs

What is Coin Yuksu Made Of?

Each tablet is made from ground and pressed broth ingredients. The most common version contains dried anchovy and kelp, often with dried shrimp, pollack, shiitake mushroom, radish, onion or green onion, plus salt and seasonings. Ingredients vary a lot by brand, and some contain flavor enhancers while others are made only from natural ingredients, so check the label if that matters to you. Unlike dashida, which is a beef-flavored powder, coin yuksu is usually seafood-based.

Types of coin yuksu

• Anchovy-kelp: the all-purpose classic for soups and stews.
• Seafood: extra shrimp, crab or clam for spicy stews and noodle soups.
• Vegetable: made from dried vegetables and mushrooms, without fish.
• Beef or bone broth: meat-based tablets for tteokguk or rich soups.

What Does Coin Yuksu Taste Like?

Dissolved in water, coin yuksu tastes like a light, savory anchovy-kelp stock with gentle umami from the seaweed and a little saltiness. It is not meant to be the only seasoning; it gives a soup its background depth, and you still season with soy sauce, salt or doenjang.

Popular Korean Dishes That Use Coin Yuksu

Kongnamul-guk

Clear soybean sprout soup, a light everyday soup. Recipe below.

Doenjang jjigae

Soybean paste stew built on an anchovy stock.

Tteokbokki

A tablet in the cooking water makes the spicy sauce much more savory.

Eomuk-tang

Fish cake soup, a street-food favorite in cold weather.

Easy Kongnamul-guk Recipe (Serves 2–3)

Ingredients

• 5 cups (1.2 liters) water
• 2 coin yuksu tablets
• 7 oz (200 g) soybean sprouts, rinsed
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp Korean soup soy sauce (guk-ganjang) or regular soy sauce
• Salt to taste
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 1/2 tsp gochugaru (optional)

Instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil in a pot and add the coin yuksu tablets. Boil for about 3 minutes until fully dissolved (check your package; most need 2–5 minutes).
2. Add the soybean sprouts and garlic. Cover and boil over medium-high heat for 5 minutes without lifting the lid, which helps prevent a raw, beany smell.
3. Uncover, season with soup soy sauce and salt, and simmer 2 more minutes.
4. Add the green onion and gochugaru, turn off the heat and serve hot with rice.

Tip: Taste before adding salt. Most coin yuksu already contains some salt, and brands vary, so season gradually.

Where to Buy Coin Yuksu

United States

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Amazon
Search coin yuksu on Amazon
Search Korean anchovy broth tablets on Amazon

H-Mart
Search coin yuksu on H-Mart

Canada

Search coin yuksu on Amazon.ca

Europe

Search coin yuksu on Amazon.co.uk

How to Store Coin Yuksu

Keep the tablets in their sealed pouch or an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from humidity, which can make them soften or clump. Many people keep opened packs in the refrigerator or freezer to protect the flavor. Use by the date on the package.

Coin Yuksu FAQ

How many coin yuksu tablets do I use?

A common guide is one tablet for about 2 cups (500 ml) of water, but follow your package because sizes differ.

Is coin yuksu the same as dashida?

No. Dashida is a granulated seasoning, often beef-flavored, while coin yuksu is a pressed tablet usually made from anchovy and kelp.

Is coin yuksu vegetarian?

Most are not, since they contain fish. Look for tablets labeled vegetable broth if you need a fish-free option.

Conclusion

Coin yuksu is a small tablet that saves a lot of time, giving you a savory Korean stock in minutes for soups, stews and noodle dishes. If you have time to make broth from scratch, try our anchovy-kelp broth recipe, or use your stock in a classic doenjang jjigae.