October 22, 2025Oct 22, 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

Abnormal climatic phenomena get frequent

Abnormal climatic phenomena get frequent

According to a report on the global water resources recently released by the World Meteorological Organization, uncommon phenomena

October 21, 2025

According to a report on the global water resources recently released by the World Meteorological Organization, uncommon phenomena

Venezuela warns: US is threatening world energy security

Venezuela warns: US is threatening world energy security

The Venezuelan vice-president warned in his speech at an international forum on October 15 that the US is threatening world energy

October 21, 2025

The Venezuelan vice-president warned in his speech at an international forum on October 15 that the US is threatening world energy

New houses built at Honam Farm in Pyongyang

New houses built at Honam Farm in Pyongyang

New houses have been built at the Honam Farm of the Pyongyang Municipal Rural Economy Committee, adding to the joy and optimism of

October 21, 2025

New houses have been built at the Honam Farm of the Pyongyang Municipal Rural Economy Committee, adding to the joy and optimism of

Woman developer of green insect killer device

Woman developer of green insect killer device

A sci-tech presentation and exhibition for improving the ecological environment of the capital city was held at the Sci-Tech

October 21, 2025

A sci-tech presentation and exhibition for improving the ecological environment of the capital city was held at the Sci-Tech

Marked progress in readjustment and reinforcement

Marked progress in readjustment and reinforcement

The Chollima Steel Complex directs efforts to readjustment and reinforcement for increasing production. The complex, which had

October 21, 2025

The Chollima Steel Complex directs efforts to readjustment and reinforcement for increasing production. The complex, which had

Nationwide wheat processing capacity nearly doubles

Nationwide wheat processing capacity nearly doubles

The nationwide wheat processing capacity has so far increased remarkably since the Workers’ Party of Korea put forward the

October 21, 2025

The nationwide wheat processing capacity has so far increased remarkably since the Workers’ Party of Korea put forward the

DPRK Taekwon-Do players come back home

DPRK Taekwon-Do players come back home

Trustworthy Taekwon-Do players of the DPRK came back home on October 18 after demonstrating the honour of the country at the 23rd

October 20, 2025

Trustworthy Taekwon-Do players of the DPRK came back home on October 18 after demonstrating the honour of the country at the 23rd

Iranian president calls for unity of Islamic countries

Iranian president calls for unity of Islamic countries

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on Islamic countries to unite in a meeting held on October 15. He revealed that the

October 20, 2025

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called on Islamic countries to unite in a meeting held on October 15. He revealed that the

Foreign figures visit DPRK missions

Foreign figures visit DPRK missions

Personages of various circles in different countries paid congratulatory visits to the DPRK missions in their countries on the

October 20, 2025

Personages of various circles in different countries paid congratulatory visits to the DPRK missions in their countries on the

WPK's founding anniversary celebrated abroad

WPK's founding anniversary celebrated abroad

Events took place in various countries from September 30 to October 12 on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of the

October 20, 2025

Events took place in various countries from September 30 to October 12 on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of the

New houses built in Paegam County

New houses built in Paegam County

New houses have been built in Paegam County, Ryanggang Province. The cosy houses built in Jungsan-ri and Yanggok-ri to suit the

October 20, 2025

New houses have been built in Paegam County, Ryanggang Province. The cosy houses built in Jungsan-ri and Yanggok-ri to suit the

Congratulatory group of GAKC tours various places

Congratulatory group of GAKC tours various places

The congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China (GAKC) for celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of

October 20, 2025

The congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China (GAKC) for celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of

Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan visits Mangyongdae

Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan visits Mangyongdae

The congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan for celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea led by

October 20, 2025

The congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan for celebrating the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea led by

More Articles