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 workers of the Kwangmyong Pit of the Unpha Mine are increasing production in the spirit of making uninterrupted innovations
December 13, 2025
The workers of the Kwangmyong Pit of the Unpha Mine are increasing production in the spirit of making uninterrupted innovations
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on December 6 that the West suffered enormous losses due to its unilateral sanctions.
December 13, 2025
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on December 6 that the West suffered enormous losses due to its unilateral sanctions.
The Kanggye Tannery has been newly built and inaugurated in Jagang Province. The tannery with more than 10 buildings and modern
December 13, 2025
The Kanggye Tannery has been newly built and inaugurated in Jagang Province. The tannery with more than 10 buildings and modern
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held from
December 12, 2025
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held from
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India from December 4 to 5. During his visit he met with the Indian President and had
December 12, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India from December 4 to 5. During his visit he met with the Indian President and had
Jagang Province has renovated the Kanggye Building-materials Factory. The completion of the building-materials production base
December 12, 2025
Jagang Province has renovated the Kanggye Building-materials Factory. The completion of the building-materials production base
Amid the ever-growing revolutionary spirit of the young people of the present era who are willing to devote their wisdom and
December 12, 2025
Amid the ever-growing revolutionary spirit of the young people of the present era who are willing to devote their wisdom and
The Usan Cotton Farm in Hanggu District of Nampho Municipality and the Konha Farm in Manpho City of Jagang Province have greeted
December 12, 2025
The Usan Cotton Farm in Hanggu District of Nampho Municipality and the Konha Farm in Manpho City of Jagang Province have greeted
The construction of the third-stage 10 000 flats in the Hwasong area was completed last April and the fourth-stage project is now
December 12, 2025
The construction of the third-stage 10 000 flats in the Hwasong area was completed last April and the fourth-stage project is now
Jagang Province has newly built a black swan and ostrich production base at the Hungju Chicken Farm. The completion of the
December 12, 2025
Jagang Province has newly built a black swan and ostrich production base at the Hungju Chicken Farm. The completion of the
Proud entities visually showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside flourishing day by day are being built one
December 11, 2025
Proud entities visually showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside flourishing day by day are being built one
There was the second-day sitting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on
December 11, 2025
There was the second-day sitting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
December 11, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of China urged Japan to fulfil its obligation as a defeated nation at a press conference
December 11, 2025
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of China urged Japan to fulfil its obligation as a defeated nation at a press conference
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National
December 11, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National
The secretary office of the premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on December 10 informed the Korean
December 11, 2025
The secretary office of the premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on December 10 informed the Korean
Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jae Ryong, department
December 11, 2025
Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jae Ryong, department
Amid the growing joy of the macrobians leading a blessed life under the socialist system of the DPRK, Yonha-dong of Sinuiju City,
December 11, 2025
Amid the growing joy of the macrobians leading a blessed life under the socialist system of the DPRK, Yonha-dong of Sinuiju City,
The provincial building materials exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang on December 9.
December 11, 2025
The provincial building materials exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang on December 9.
A potato farina production factory was newly built and inaugurated in Jangjin County, South Hamgyong Province. The factory has a
December 11, 2025
A potato farina production factory was newly built and inaugurated in Jangjin County, South Hamgyong Province. The factory has a
More Articles
