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
Talks were held between Sung Jong Gyu, minister of Culture of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Olga Lyubimova,
July 01, 2025
Talks were held between Sung Jong Gyu, minister of Culture of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Olga Lyubimova,
The West Pyongyang Locomotive Corps of the Pyongyang Railway Bureau carried out its first half-yearly plan for freight transport.
July 01, 2025
The West Pyongyang Locomotive Corps of the Pyongyang Railway Bureau carried out its first half-yearly plan for freight transport.
New posters have been created to dynamically arouse all the people across the DPRK to attain the grand goals for 2025 set forth by
July 01, 2025
New posters have been created to dynamically arouse all the people across the DPRK to attain the grand goals for 2025 set forth by
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the West’s attempted robbery at the Eurasian economic forum on June 26. The Western
July 01, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the West’s attempted robbery at the Eurasian economic forum on June 26. The Western
The delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation led by Minister Olga Lyubimova on a visit to the DPRK laid a
July 01, 2025
The delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation led by Minister Olga Lyubimova on a visit to the DPRK laid a
Political parties and organizations of different countries made public statements on the occasion of the June 25-July 27 month of
June 30, 2025
Political parties and organizations of different countries made public statements on the occasion of the June 25-July 27 month of
All kinds of crimes are happening in Western society. Child abuse is rife in Japan. The police agency of Japan announced on June 5
June 30, 2025
All kinds of crimes are happening in Western society. Child abuse is rife in Japan. The police agency of Japan announced on June 5
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the hostile policy of the US and the West in an international forum of scientist
June 30, 2025
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the hostile policy of the US and the West in an international forum of scientist
The Chollima General Building-materials Factory is boosting production by strengthening its technical forces. “Now that
June 30, 2025
The Chollima General Building-materials Factory is boosting production by strengthening its technical forces. “Now that
A delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation headed by Minister Olga Lyubimova, arrived in Pyongyang on June
June 30, 2025
A delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation headed by Minister Olga Lyubimova, arrived in Pyongyang on June
People are now touched by the admirable deed of Choe Ju Ok, a teacher of Inhung Junior Middle School in Moranbong District,
June 30, 2025
People are now touched by the admirable deed of Choe Ju Ok, a teacher of Inhung Junior Middle School in Moranbong District,
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Im Hyok, a woman centenarian living in neighbourhood unit No. 16
June 30, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Im Hyok, a woman centenarian living in neighbourhood unit No. 16
Pyongyang Municipality has increased the output of dairy products by 30 percent and the production and storage capacity three
June 29, 2025
Pyongyang Municipality has increased the output of dairy products by 30 percent and the production and storage capacity three
The Sangwon Cement Complex has completed its first half-yearly plan ahead of schedule. While conducting the frontline-style
June 29, 2025
The Sangwon Cement Complex has completed its first half-yearly plan ahead of schedule. While conducting the frontline-style
Different units in the mining industry sector fulfilled their first half-yearly national economic plans ahead of schedule. The
June 29, 2025
Different units in the mining industry sector fulfilled their first half-yearly national economic plans ahead of schedule. The
Ryomyong (Dawn) Street in the capital city of Pyongyang is located in the area of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the supreme
June 29, 2025
Ryomyong (Dawn) Street in the capital city of Pyongyang is located in the area of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the supreme
Villagers of neighbourhood unit No. 42 of Ansan-dong No. 2 in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, say as follows whenever they see a
June 29, 2025
Villagers of neighbourhood unit No. 42 of Ansan-dong No. 2 in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, say as follows whenever they see a
The DPRK embassy in Moscow hosted a reception on June 23 to mark the first anniversary of the historic DPRK-Russia Pyongyang
June 28, 2025
The DPRK embassy in Moscow hosted a reception on June 23 to mark the first anniversary of the historic DPRK-Russia Pyongyang
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would continuously build up its defence capabilities in a meeting with graduates
June 28, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would continuously build up its defence capabilities in a meeting with graduates
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Yun Sil, living in neighbourhood unit No. 27 in Kingol-dong of
June 28, 2025
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Yun Sil, living in neighbourhood unit No. 27 in Kingol-dong of
More Articles