January 25, 2026Jan 25, 2026
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

European countries resist US’ tariff threat

European countries resist US’ tariff threat

European countries are strongly resisting the US’ threat to impose from February 1 10 percent tariff on those countries which do n

January 24, 2026

European countries are strongly resisting the US’ threat to impose from February 1 10 percent tariff on those countries which do n

US congressmen criticize attempt to annex Greenland

US congressmen criticize attempt to annex Greenland

The US Senators and Representatives recently criticized the authorities' attempt to annex Greenland. Military invasion of

January 23, 2026

The US Senators and Representatives recently criticized the authorities' attempt to annex Greenland. Military invasion of

Yombunjin Coastal Park inaugurated

Yombunjin Coastal Park inaugurated

A new spectacular sight of regional development has unfolded in the Yombunjin area renowned as a scenic attraction on the east

January 23, 2026

A new spectacular sight of regional development has unfolded in the Yombunjin area renowned as a scenic attraction on the east

New houses built in South Phyongan Province

New houses built in South Phyongan Province

Several rural villages in South Phyongan Province have undergone radical changes. Modern houses were built in Soje-ri of Taedong

January 23, 2026

Several rural villages in South Phyongan Province have undergone radical changes. Modern houses were built in Soje-ri of Taedong

Finishing building materials factory inaugurated in Kaesong

Finishing building materials factory inaugurated in Kaesong

Working people in Kaesong have remodelled the finishing building materials factory. The completion of the factory, furnished with

January 23, 2026

Working people in Kaesong have remodelled the finishing building materials factory. The completion of the factory, furnished with

Long journey made with lofty aim to liberate country

Long journey made with lofty aim to liberate country

In 1925 President Kim Il Sung made the 1 000-ri (250 miles) Journey for National Liberation with a lofty aim to win back his

January 23, 2026

In 1925 President Kim Il Sung made the 1 000-ri (250 miles) Journey for National Liberation with a lofty aim to win back his

Russian President mentions foreign policy line

Russian President mentions foreign policy line

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He

January 22, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He

Deadly epidemics sweep the world

Deadly epidemics sweep the world

With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health

January 22, 2026

With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health

New houses built in Jagang Province

New houses built in Jagang Province

Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of

January 22, 2026

Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of

Catalyst production base built

Catalyst production base built

A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another

January 22, 2026

A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another

Anniversary of Youth Movement Museum marked

Anniversary of Youth Movement Museum marked

The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally

January 22, 2026

The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally

Over 1 million people visit Youth Movement Museum in 10 years

Over 1 million people visit Youth Movement Museum in 10 years

It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of

January 22, 2026

It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of

Medvedev ridicules US’ attempt to seize Greenland

Medvedev ridicules US’ attempt to seize Greenland

Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte

January 21, 2026

Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte

Russia decides to deport British diplomat

Russia decides to deport British diplomat

Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the

January 21, 2026

Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the

New houses built at farms in Kangwon Province

New houses built at farms in Kangwon Province

Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production

January 21, 2026

Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production

Academy of Forest Science inaugurated

Academy of Forest Science inaugurated

The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office

January 21, 2026

The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office

Poisoning of Emperor Kojong, premeditated assassination

Poisoning of Emperor Kojong, premeditated assassination

The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese

January 21, 2026

The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese

More Articles