January 02, 2026Jan 02, 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

New Year celebration performance given in DPRK

New Year celebration performance given in DPRK

The hopeful New Year 2026 has come to the country dynamically advancing toward the grand goal of eternal prosperity for the

January 01, 2026

The hopeful New Year 2026 has come to the country dynamically advancing toward the grand goal of eternal prosperity for the

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un 's speech at New Year celebration

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un 's speech at New Year celebration

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a New Year celebration. The full text of his speech is as follows: Dear

January 01, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a New Year celebration. The full text of his speech is as follows: Dear

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Marking the New Year 2026, the Editorial Board of The Pyongyang Times extends warm greetings to all readers, who have got familiar

January 01, 2026

Marking the New Year 2026, the Editorial Board of The Pyongyang Times extends warm greetings to all readers, who have got familiar

Ceremonies of moving into new houses held in Jagang Province

Ceremonies of moving into new houses held in Jagang Province

Villages of the Konggwi Vegetable Farm in Kanggye City and the Kaewon Farm in Wiwon County, Jagang Province, underwent great

December 31, 2025

Villages of the Konggwi Vegetable Farm in Kanggye City and the Kaewon Farm in Wiwon County, Jagang Province, underwent great

Russia urges Japan to stop its attempt to negate war crimes

Russia urges Japan to stop its attempt to negate war crimes

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Japan to stop its attempt to whitewash its war

December 31, 2025

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Japan to stop its attempt to whitewash its war

Putin calls for fighting against history distortion

Putin calls for fighting against history distortion

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting

December 30, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for fighting against the distortion of history as he addressed an informal summit meeting

Iranian FM criticizes hypocritical act of West

Iranian FM criticizes hypocritical act of West

A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The

December 30, 2025

A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry censured the West for its hypocritical act at a press conference on December 22. The

New houses built in North Phyongan Province

New houses built in North Phyongan Province

New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North

December 30, 2025

New modern houses have been built in Amdu-ri of Jongju City, Pongnin-ri of Pakchon County and Pugil-ri of Unjon County in North

Lots of rural youth workteams and sub-workteams reap good harvest

Lots of rural youth workteams and sub-workteams reap good harvest

The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams

December 30, 2025

The rich harvest in the socialist farm fields of the DPRK this year is associated with the efforts of the rural youth workteams

New Year greeting cards issued

New Year greeting cards issued

Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of

December 30, 2025

Creators of the Art and Literature Publishing House and the Korean Central Fine Arts Studio and lecturers and students of

Unsan Paper Mill inaugurated in South Phyongan Province

Unsan Paper Mill inaugurated in South Phyongan Province

At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are

December 29, 2025

At the time when the cheers for inaugurations celebrating the steady success in implementing the regional development policy are

Children’s rights and future of humankind

Children’s rights and future of humankind

To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h

December 29, 2025

To preserve the rights of children is an important issue related with the development of countries and nations and the future of h

New houses built at farms in South Phyongan Province

New houses built at farms in South Phyongan Province

New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in

December 29, 2025

New houses have appeared at the Samwon Industrial Crop Farm and the Hyangphung Farm in Songchon County and the Yakjon Farm in

Chinese FM rejects Japan’s ‘theory of nuclear possession’

Chinese FM rejects Japan’s ‘theory of nuclear possession’

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D

December 29, 2025

A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Japan’s “theory of nuclear possession” at a press conference on D

Yearly economic plan fulfilled at Sangwon Cement Complex

Yearly economic plan fulfilled at Sangwon Cement Complex

The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its 2025 task for additionally producing hundreds of thousands of tons of cement and

December 29, 2025

The Sangwon Cement Complex carried out its 2025 task for additionally producing hundreds of thousands of tons of cement and

Title of model law-observance unit conferred

Title of model law-observance unit conferred

A ceremony of awarding the title of model law-observance unit to the units exemplary in socialist law observance took place at the

December 29, 2025

A ceremony of awarding the title of model law-observance unit to the units exemplary in socialist law observance took place at the

More Articles