November 06, 2025Nov 06, 2025
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Special drinks for lunar New Year’s Day

Date: 23/01/2023 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

On lunar New Year’s Day, the Koreans liked to make and have such drinks as fruit punch and sweet drink made from fermented rice along with various kinds of national foods.

The fruit punch with a dried persimmon floating in an infusion of ginger and cinnamon is known as a traditional drink peculiar to the Korean nation.

The drink is made as follows:

First, boil sliced ginger and crumbled cinnamon in different vessels respectively because if they are boiled together, their individual fragrance and taste are removed and reduced, producing no taste peculiar to the fruit punch. Then, filter the infusions through cloth to mix them and dissolve honey in the mixture. Now float a swollen dried persimmon and pine nuts on it. The fruit punch thus has a refreshing, sweet and spicy taste.

Sweet drink is also one of the drinks that the Koreans made and drank on lunar New Year’s Day. It is made by fermenting boiled rice in an infusion of malty powder.

It has a long history in Korea.

According to Koryodogyong which was compiled in the mid-13th century, paengmijang, a kind of sweet drink whose main raw material is polished rice, was made in Kaesong, the then capital city of Koryo.

The traditional recipe for the drink is as follows:

Steam clean rice in a cooking pot with charcoal fire on the lid of the pot as well so that the rice absorbs heat evenly from above and below. Put the steamed rice in a jug.  Meanwhile, sieve the malty powder infusion into the jug to steep the rice. Seal the mouth of the jug with paper and put it on a hot floor for maturation before pouring cold water mixed with honey into the jug and adding jujube, chestnut, pine nut and pear to the content. This makes the drink refreshing and palatable.

The fruit punch and sweet drink were distinctive as the drinks the Koreans prepared a lot for lunar New Year’s Day. On the occasion of the holiday every year, every housewife regarded it as a custom to prepare fruit punch with sincerity to serve New Year’s callers.

More From Pyongyang Times

Chinese defense ministry decries US’ scheme for division

Chinese defense ministry decries US’ scheme for division

A spokesman for the Defense Ministry of China decried the US’ manoeuvres for division at a press conference on October 30.Shortly

November 04, 2025

A spokesman for the Defense Ministry of China decried the US’ manoeuvres for division at a press conference on October 30.Shortly

DPRK team beats Japanese team at 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

DPRK team beats Japanese team at 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

A quarterfinal between the DPRK and Japanese teams for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup took place on November 1 (local time).

November 04, 2025

A quarterfinal between the DPRK and Japanese teams for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup took place on November 1 (local time).

Japan openly reveals its true looks as war state

Japan openly reveals its true looks as war state

Japan has grown ever more undisguised in its moves to possess the capability for preemptive attack. It has recently launched

November 04, 2025

Japan has grown ever more undisguised in its moves to possess the capability for preemptive attack. It has recently launched

DPRK players win gold medals at 2025 Asian Cup Rowing Games

DPRK players win gold medals at 2025 Asian Cup Rowing Games

DPRK players won gold medals at four events of the 2025 Asian Cup Rowing Games held in China. Ri Yun Gyong and Ri So Yon took

November 04, 2025

DPRK players won gold medals at four events of the 2025 Asian Cup Rowing Games held in China. Ri Yun Gyong and Ri So Yon took

New houses built in Ryanggang Province

New houses built in Ryanggang Province

New houses have been built at the Township, Jiksol and Jigyong stockbreeding farms in Kim Hyong Gwon County of Ryanggang Province.

November 04, 2025

New houses have been built at the Township, Jiksol and Jigyong stockbreeding farms in Kim Hyong Gwon County of Ryanggang Province.

Grand chorus resounding through sky in October

Grand chorus resounding through sky in October

The grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance “Long live the Workers’ Party of Korea” was staged in splendour at May

November 04, 2025

The grand mass gymnastics and artistic performance “Long live the Workers’ Party of Korea” was staged in splendour at May

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visits bier of late Kim Yong Nam

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visits bier of late Kim Yong Nam

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's

November 04, 2025

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's

Secretaries of WPK Central Committee inspect Jenam Coal Mine

Secretaries of WPK Central Committee inspect Jenam Coal Mine

Jo Yong Won and Ri Hi Yong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, made a field survey of the Jenam

November 03, 2025

Jo Yong Won and Ri Hi Yong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, made a field survey of the Jenam

Home-visiting group of Korean students in Japan arrives in Pyongyang

Home-visiting group of Korean students in Japan arrives in Pyongyang

A home-visiting group of students in their final year at Korea University of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan

November 03, 2025

A home-visiting group of students in their final year at Korea University of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan

Prosperity by dint of self-reliance

Prosperity by dint of self-reliance

Self-reliance is the immutable course of development of the Korean revolution. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made the truth

November 03, 2025

Self-reliance is the immutable course of development of the Korean revolution. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made the truth

Mexican President censures US for attacking vessels

Mexican President censures US for attacking vessels

The Mexican President at a press conference on October 28 condemned the US for attacking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern

November 03, 2025

The Mexican President at a press conference on October 28 condemned the US for attacking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern

New houses built in rural villages of Ryanggang Province

New houses built in rural villages of Ryanggang Province

New houses have been built in Taeung-ri, Rajuk-ri and Muchang-ri of Kim Hyong Jik County in Ryanggang Province. The modern

November 03, 2025

New houses have been built in Taeung-ri, Rajuk-ri and Muchang-ri of Kim Hyong Jik County in Ryanggang Province. The modern

Outreach medical teams’ activities gain momentum

Outreach medical teams’ activities gain momentum

Medical workers of central-level hospitals are conducting intense outreach medical service activities.According to data available,

November 03, 2025

Medical workers of central-level hospitals are conducting intense outreach medical service activities.According to data available,

Young people in Pyongyang volunteer to work on major economic fronts

Young people in Pyongyang volunteer to work on major economic fronts

Young people in Pyongyang volunteered to work on major economic fronts to which the Workers' Party of Korea calls. Members of the

November 03, 2025

Young people in Pyongyang volunteered to work on major economic fronts to which the Workers' Party of Korea calls. Members of the

Russia decries US’ and West’s outer space militarization moves

Russia decries US’ and West’s outer space militarization moves

The deputy director of the nonproliferation and arms control department of the Russian Foreign Ministry censured the US and West f

November 02, 2025

The deputy director of the nonproliferation and arms control department of the Russian Foreign Ministry censured the US and West f

New houses built in Musan County of North Hamgyong Province

New houses built in Musan County of North Hamgyong Province

New houses have been built at the Tokso Farm in Musan County, North Hamgyong Province. The modern dwelling houses go well with a

November 02, 2025

New houses have been built at the Tokso Farm in Musan County, North Hamgyong Province. The modern dwelling houses go well with a

Sangwon Cement Complex fulfills national economic plan for October

Sangwon Cement Complex fulfills national economic plan for October

The Sangwon Cement Complex has fulfilled its national economic plan for October. The complex analysed the operation of equipment

November 01, 2025

The Sangwon Cement Complex has fulfilled its national economic plan for October. The complex analysed the operation of equipment

More Articles