culture

Fried glutinous rice cake is one of the favourite national foods of the DPRK people.

Today’s fried glutinous rice cake is a kind of cake made of fried cereals, sesame, soybean and other materials mixed with liquid sugar. But according to old historical records, it was a kind of oil-and-honey pastry made by kneading glutinous rice flour with liquor, boiling, shaping and drying it, before frying, covering it with glucose syrup and dressing with bean flour.

They say it was called pine-nut and five-colour fried glutinous rice cake according to the garnishes as it was dressed with white sesame, black sesame, pine nut, yellow bean and green bean flour and used as a festive dish for ceremonies and the New Year.

Old people gave fried glutinous rice cake or small money to their dear grandsons and granddaughters who pranked themselves up with fine clothes and made a bow of respect to them on New Year’s Day. When neighbours paid a New Year’s visit to them, they gave children confectionery like taffy and fried glutinous rice cake and served adults simple foods after receiving New Year greetings. 

Fried glutinous rice cake has changed into various forms, tasted better and considerably increased in its variety for a long time.

Its main raw materials include glutinous rice, rice, wheat, soybean, sorghum, sugar and glucose syrup and it is made by using circular microwave oven, thickening oven, agitator, moulding machine and other equipment.

“The Kumkhop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspeople produces a large quantity of fried glutinous rice cakes associated with wisdom and resourcefulness of the ancestors. Fried glutinous rice cake is a kind of confectionery favoured by all people, young and old,” said Sok Myong Ju, senior engineer of the factory.