As the temperature rises gradually, families often put on table such foods as kimchi made of cucumbers and spring bok choy, mung-bean sprout salad, lettuces, garlic pickling in vinegar and new potato dishes.
Housewives also prepare rice-and-mugwort cake, steamed rice yeast cake, mung-bean pancake, steamed rice-and-green pea cake and the like as part of their staple diet, believing that national dishes are best in stimulating appetite.
Especially, rice-and-mugwort cake is regarded as a must-have.
The family of old woman Kim Song Ok in neighbourhood unit No. 58 of Jonjin-dong in Rangnang District, Pyongyang, enjoyed the cake last Sunday.
“For the unique fragrance and flavour of mugwort, the cake has been one of special dishes the Koreans have made since olden times. We also make and have it every year. Though my granddaughter objected to the bitter taste of the plant originally, she came to like the cake and now coaxes me into making it,” said Kim.
Mugworts grow in groups in mountains, fields and sunny places and contain protein, fat, sugar, minerals and various kinds of vitamins.
According to Pae Son Yong, lecturer at Pyongyang Jang Chol Gu University of Commerce, foods made of mugworts at the turn of the season help digestion and promote health.
The slightly bitter taste of mugworts stimulates appetite and the deep green colour of parboiled mugworts decorates the table conspicuously.
Kim Song Ok who learned the recipe for the cake from her mother picks fresh mugworts every early spring and prepares the cake to serve the food to her family members every year.
Last Sunday even her nephew’s wife came to her to learn how to make it.
“Pluck soft fresh mugworts and wash them well. Do not boil them too long lest they should discolour or get too pulpy,” Kim Song Ok taught her in detail.
The parboiled mugworts are soaked for a night, squeezed dry and pounded in a mortar. And then they are evenly mixed with rice flour and kneaded with hot water to make a flat round piece of dough before steaming. Steaming also requires a skill, Kim added.
According to her, whenever she kneads the steaming dough giving off fragrance into fancy, half-moon-shaped and tail-shaped rice cakes, her grandchildren rush into the kitchen to join her and their happy laughter fills the whole house.
“There are innumerable national dishes for each season. I usually try to prepare a diverse range of foods, national dishes in particular, in order to enrich our meal. In my experience, our national dishes are best,” said the elderly woman.
More From Pyongyang Times
Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, demanded the Ukrainian authorities come out for peace talks at a press
November 27, 2025
Dmitri Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, demanded the Ukrainian authorities come out for peace talks at a press
The Hungarian prime minister said in an interview with a radio broadcasting service on November 21 that he rejected an EU Commissi
November 27, 2025
The Hungarian prime minister said in an interview with a radio broadcasting service on November 21 that he rejected an EU Commissi
The Pukchong County Fruit Processing Factory has undergone renovation. The factory is furnished with hundreds of pieces of
November 27, 2025
The Pukchong County Fruit Processing Factory has undergone renovation. The factory is furnished with hundreds of pieces of
New houses have been built at the Thaeyang Farm in Kyonghung County and at the Hyongje Farm in Puryong County of North Hamgyong
November 27, 2025
New houses have been built at the Thaeyang Farm in Kyonghung County and at the Hyongje Farm in Puryong County of North Hamgyong
Remarkable progress has recently been made in protecting and increasing the forests of the country with the smooth operation of a
November 27, 2025
Remarkable progress has recently been made in protecting and increasing the forests of the country with the smooth operation of a
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China condemned the moves of Japan to revive militarism at a press conference o
November 26, 2025
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China condemned the moves of Japan to revive militarism at a press conference o
The Pukchang Thermal Power Complex newly established a process for converting soot from the power production process into a raw
November 26, 2025
The Pukchang Thermal Power Complex newly established a process for converting soot from the power production process into a raw
The national robot contest according to school systems in the field of general education-2025 took place at Pyongyang Teachers
November 26, 2025
The national robot contest according to school systems in the field of general education-2025 took place at Pyongyang Teachers
On the basis of the information service system related to forest fire monitoring which is in operation on a nationwide scale, the
November 26, 2025
On the basis of the information service system related to forest fire monitoring which is in operation on a nationwide scale, the
New houses have been built at the Township Farm in Hochon County, South Hamgyong Province, and the Insan Farm in Rangnim County,
November 26, 2025
New houses have been built at the Township Farm in Hochon County, South Hamgyong Province, and the Insan Farm in Rangnim County,
The Okryu Children’s Hospital in the Munsu area of Pyongyang was inaugurated in October 2013.The hospital, equipped with the lates
November 26, 2025
The Okryu Children’s Hospital in the Munsu area of Pyongyang was inaugurated in October 2013.The hospital, equipped with the lates
Top spinning is one of winter folk games of Korean children. A top is spun with a whip on the ice or the ground. In winter
November 26, 2025
Top spinning is one of winter folk games of Korean children. A top is spun with a whip on the ice or the ground. In winter
The situation of children is getting worse in many countries and regions of the world with each passing day. Disputes and armed
November 25, 2025
The situation of children is getting worse in many countries and regions of the world with each passing day. Disputes and armed
New modern houses have been built in Ryongchon-dong, Saemunhwa-dong, Ponsan-dong, Jonjin-dong No. 2 and Taehung-dong No. 1 of
November 25, 2025
New modern houses have been built in Ryongchon-dong, Saemunhwa-dong, Ponsan-dong, Jonjin-dong No. 2 and Taehung-dong No. 1 of
Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that no statute of limitations applies to the crimes committed by Nazis in his
November 25, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that no statute of limitations applies to the crimes committed by Nazis in his
The 18th national symposium of health workers on experience of devoted service took place at the Myohyangsan Medical Appliances
November 25, 2025
The 18th national symposium of health workers on experience of devoted service took place at the Myohyangsan Medical Appliances
Kim Chaek University of Technology carried out the major research projects planned for this year ahead of schedule. Research teams
November 25, 2025
Kim Chaek University of Technology carried out the major research projects planned for this year ahead of schedule. Research teams
A session of the Permanent Commission of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK was held. The session
November 25, 2025
A session of the Permanent Commission of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK was held. The session
Shortly ago, the 27th national exhibition of sports sci-tech achievements and the national symposium on teaching methods in the
November 24, 2025
Shortly ago, the 27th national exhibition of sports sci-tech achievements and the national symposium on teaching methods in the
Russian President Vladimir Putin took part online in a ceremony of laying down the keel of the nuclear-powered ice-breaker
November 24, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin took part online in a ceremony of laying down the keel of the nuclear-powered ice-breaker
More Articles
