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
Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.
December 10, 2025
Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.
The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu
December 10, 2025
The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu
Japan continues to contaminate the sea with successive discharge of nuclear waste water.On December 4 the Tokyo Electric Power Com
December 10, 2025
Japan continues to contaminate the sea with successive discharge of nuclear waste water.On December 4 the Tokyo Electric Power Com
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the
December 10, 2025
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the
The Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae Province has overfulfilled its state grain production plan this year, too.
December 10, 2025
The Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae Province has overfulfilled its state grain production plan this year, too.
The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the
December 10, 2025
The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the
A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to
December 10, 2025
A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened on
December 10, 2025
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened on
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
December 09, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of
December 09, 2025
Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned European countries against moving toward war at a press conference on December 2. Europe
December 09, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned European countries against moving toward war at a press conference on December 2. Europe
Recently, Japan has planned to press on with the reexamination of the “three principles of denuclearization” it has maintained
December 09, 2025
Recently, Japan has planned to press on with the reexamination of the “three principles of denuclearization” it has maintained
The workers of the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex fulfilled their fertilizer production plans
December 09, 2025
The workers of the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex and the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex fulfilled their fertilizer production plans
Agricultural workers of the Taedong Farm in Tongchang County and the Namha Farm in Pyoktong County, North Phyongan Province, have
December 09, 2025
Agricultural workers of the Taedong Farm in Tongchang County and the Namha Farm in Pyoktong County, North Phyongan Province, have
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
December 09, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
It has been one year since a ceasefire agreement was concluded between Lebanon and Israel. But in the period Israel has carried
December 08, 2025
It has been one year since a ceasefire agreement was concluded between Lebanon and Israel. But in the period Israel has carried
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, denounced on December 1 the reckless remarks made by the chairman
December 08, 2025
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, denounced on December 1 the reckless remarks made by the chairman
The expedition to revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu, made up of youth and students from across the DPRK, climbed
December 08, 2025
The expedition to revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu, made up of youth and students from across the DPRK, climbed
Modern villages have sprung up at the Hungsang Farm in Ragwon County and the Township Farm in Kumya County, South Hamgyong
December 08, 2025
Modern villages have sprung up at the Hungsang Farm in Ragwon County and the Township Farm in Kumya County, South Hamgyong
South Hamgyong Province has remodelled the Hamhung Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory. The factory, furnished with dozens of
December 08, 2025
South Hamgyong Province has remodelled the Hamhung Koryo Medicine Pharmaceutical Factory. The factory, furnished with dozens of
More Articles
