Chinese cabbage kimchi has long been consumed as a traditional fermented food in Korea. Ingredients involved in kimchi preparation, such as red peper, garlic, ginger, green onion, and etc., influence the kimchi fermentation rate differing with kinds and amount of ingredients. In this review article, information on the kinds and amounts of these ingredients used in the extant 75 literature is given together with data for frequency and average amount of each ingredient. In addition, chemical composition, minerals and vitamins, and characteristics of the ingredients are present. Effects of ingredients on kimchi fermentation also are extensively reviewed.