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
The hopeful New Year 2026 has come to the country dynamically advancing toward the grand goal of eternal prosperity for the
January 01, 2026
The hopeful New Year 2026 has come to the country dynamically advancing toward the grand goal of eternal prosperity for the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a New Year celebration. The full text of his speech is as follows: Dear
January 01, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a New Year celebration. The full text of his speech is as follows: Dear
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
January 01, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
Marking the New Year 2026, the Editorial Board of The Pyongyang Times extends warm greetings to all readers, who have got familiar
January 01, 2026
Marking the New Year 2026, the Editorial Board of The Pyongyang Times extends warm greetings to all readers, who have got familiar
Villages of the Konggwi Vegetable Farm in Kanggye City and the Kaewon Farm in Wiwon County, Jagang Province, underwent great
December 31, 2025
Villages of the Konggwi Vegetable Farm in Kanggye City and the Kaewon Farm in Wiwon County, Jagang Province, underwent great
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Japan to stop its attempt to whitewash its war
December 31, 2025
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Japan to stop its attempt to whitewash its war
The second year's tasks of the gigantic regional development policy, decided and powerfully led by the Central Committee of the
December 30, 2025
The second year's tasks of the gigantic regional development policy, decided and powerfully led by the Central Committee of the
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting
December 30, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The
December 30, 2025
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The
New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North
December 30, 2025
New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North
The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams
December 30, 2025
The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams
Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of
December 30, 2025
Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of
At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are
December 29, 2025
At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are
A long-range strategic cruise missile launching drill was staged on the West Sea of Korea on December 28. The drill was aimed at
December 29, 2025
A long-range strategic cruise missile launching drill was staged on the West Sea of Korea on December 28. The drill was aimed at
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a speech at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on December 21. The Eurasian
December 29, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a speech at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on December 21. The Eurasian
To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h
December 29, 2025
To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h
New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in
December 29, 2025
New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D
December 29, 2025
A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D
The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its 2025 task for additionally producing hundreds of thousands of tons of cement and
December 29, 2025
The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its 2025 task for additionally producing hundreds of thousands of tons of cement and
A ceremony of awarding the title of model law-observance unit to the units exemplary in socialist law observance took place at the
December 29, 2025
A ceremony of awarding the title of model law-observance unit to the units exemplary in socialist law observance took place at the
More Articles
