Soybean paste has been widely known as a health food for its nutritive value.
It has a long history as an excellent national food which characterizes the outstanding wisdom, creativity and unique dietary culture of the Korean nation.
Inscriptions on Koguryo tomb murals say that a large number of people were mobilized to carry out a huge project during which they consumed all of jang (soy sauce and soybean paste) in a store, as well as white rice and meat.
As can be seen through such proverbs as “Though the appearance of earthen bowl is poor, the taste of jang is good” and “Sweet jang , sweet home,” the Korean ancestors regarded jang as an important thing vital to the rise and fall of a family.
As each family prepared its own jang , the methods and tastes differed, and a family’s nobility depended on the taste of jang .
It is said that there were so many jang -making methods that a girl in Kaesong had to master scores of methods before she got married.
The traditional method is as follows:
At around Ripttong (the beginning of winter according to the lunar calendar that falls on November 7 or 8), well-ripened beans are put in water for a day before boiling them hard and pounding them in a mortar. Then, make them into balls 10 to 15 cm in diameter. The ball is called meju (soybean malt).
Wrap them in rice straws and hang them for a few months in a well-ventilated place at certain temperatures to dry with maltase growing in them.
In March of next year, crush the dried balls, put them in a sterilized jar, pour salt and water there in the 3-1 ratio, and leave the jar open to clean air and sunlight every morning.
Two or three months later, there comes black liquid in the jar. Pour it in a saucepan and boil it to make soy sauce, and ferment the leftover to make paste.
As seen above, the Koreans have long since made soy sauce, bean paste and red-peppered paste with bean and salt as the basic ingredients and developed them into a unique fermented food peculiar to the nation.
Red-peppered paste was made in any regions of the country and, in particular, the one from Kaesong was most famous.
The jang -making custom has been registered on the list of national intangible cultural heritage.
Jo Il Gyong, head of the Intangible Cultural Office of the Korean National Heritage Preservation Agency
More From Naenara (En)
One day in July 2024, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un convened the 22nd emergency enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of
May 11, 2026
One day in July 2024, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un convened the 22nd emergency enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of
Established on November 10, 1945, the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Complex is a leading rolling stock producer and a parent
May 11, 2026
Established on November 10, 1945, the Kim Jong Thae Electric Locomotive Complex is a leading rolling stock producer and a parent
A military parade was held at Red Square in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Russia’s victory in the Great
May 11, 2026
A military parade was held at Red Square in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate the 81st anniversary of Russia’s victory in the Great
The Eighth Congress of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea is to be held in Pyongyang in mid-July 2026. The 15th Plenary
May 10, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea is to be held in Pyongyang in mid-July 2026. The 15th Plenary
The Koryo medicine pharmaceutical factory has been remodelled in Jangphung County, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK. Its
May 10, 2026
The Koryo medicine pharmaceutical factory has been remodelled in Jangphung County, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK. Its
The 2026 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup is under way in China.The DPRK team belonging to Group C beat the Chinese Taipei team 10-0 and
May 10, 2026
The 2026 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup is under way in China.The DPRK team belonging to Group C beat the Chinese Taipei team 10-0 and
The State Hydro-meteorological Administration has released a road version of the weather information app Nalssi . This system
May 10, 2026
The State Hydro-meteorological Administration has released a road version of the weather information app Nalssi . This system
Inaugurated in February, the 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area form another large architectural group which is
May 10, 2026
Inaugurated in February, the 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area form another large architectural group which is
One day in April 2025, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the near-to-inauguration third-stage district in the Hwasong area
May 09, 2026
One day in April 2025, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the near-to-inauguration third-stage district in the Hwasong area
Recently, UN human rights pundits expressed deep concern over the Japanese authorities’ move to strip the “comfort women” of
May 09, 2026
Recently, UN human rights pundits expressed deep concern over the Japanese authorities’ move to strip the “comfort women” of
May 9 is World Migratory Birds Day. Migratory birds fly through different countries and regions according to seasons, and they are
May 09, 2026
May 9 is World Migratory Birds Day. Migratory birds fly through different countries and regions according to seasons, and they are
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a message of greeting to Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian
May 09, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a message of greeting to Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian
A congratulatory group of the Association of Young Korean Nationals in China led by Chairwoman Kim Song Mi visited Mangyongdae, a
May 08, 2026
A congratulatory group of the Association of Young Korean Nationals in China led by Chairwoman Kim Song Mi visited Mangyongdae, a
The spring aesthetic symposium in the field of land and environment protection-2026 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in the DPRK
May 08, 2026
The spring aesthetic symposium in the field of land and environment protection-2026 took place at the Sci-Tech Complex in the DPRK
The workers of the Sangwon Cement Complex are speeding up their advance towards the implementation of the new five-year plan set
May 08, 2026
The workers of the Sangwon Cement Complex are speeding up their advance towards the implementation of the new five-year plan set
The Eleventh National Children’s Football Tournament opened with due ceremony at the Hamhung Stadium in the DPRK on May 6 to mark
May 08, 2026
The Eleventh National Children’s Football Tournament opened with due ceremony at the Hamhung Stadium in the DPRK on May 6 to mark
The international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement is making headway around the world with dynamic activities launched to keep
May 08, 2026
The international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement is making headway around the world with dynamic activities launched to keep
Flower Festival-2026 took place at the Okryu Exhibition House in the capital city of Pyongyang in April. With the theme of “More
May 07, 2026
Flower Festival-2026 took place at the Okryu Exhibition House in the capital city of Pyongyang in April. With the theme of “More
A congratulatory group of the Korean Youth League in Japan led by Ri Kwang Il, chairman of its Central Standing Committee, visited
May 07, 2026
A congratulatory group of the Korean Youth League in Japan led by Ri Kwang Il, chairman of its Central Standing Committee, visited
Riwon pebbles are distributed on the shore of the East Sea of Korea in the Rahung Workers’ District, Riwon County, South Hamgyong
May 07, 2026
Riwon pebbles are distributed on the shore of the East Sea of Korea in the Rahung Workers’ District, Riwon County, South Hamgyong
More Articles
