“Pyongyang Raengmyon Custom”

Pyongyang Raengmyon (cold noodles) well-known to the world is a national food favoured by the Chongroan people from olden times.

“Pyongyang Raengmyon Custom” consists of the knowledge and technique of making the food and the social and cultural customs created in the course of its preparation.

The food became famous for the distinctive coils and broth of noodles, vessel and garnishes.

Its main raw material is buckwheat. It is made by putting noodle coils in a brassware vessel and topping them with such garnishes as meat, kimchi, vegetables, fruits and a half of boiled egg before pouring refreshing tongchimi (watery radish kimchi) or meat stock. The suitable tenacity of noodle coils and the peculiar taste of buckwheat stimulate appetite.

As the noodles are mixed with watery radish kimchi or meat stock, they taste more savoury than other buckwheat noodles.

From olden times the Korean people have enjoyed Pyongyang cold noodles on various occasions in their life and carried forward this custom.

The day before Jongwoldaeborum or the First Full Moon Day (fifteenth day of the first month by the lunar calendar), a folk holiday, they like to eat the cold noodles in the hope of longevity like the long noodle coils. On other auspicious days, they take the noodles together with their relatives or neighbours, sharing pleasure and promoting respect, harmony and unity.

This custom enriches their dietary life, and delights them and permeates society with optimism.

Okryu Restaurant on the bank of the Taedong River in the capital city of Pyongyang is a public catering centre famous for Pyongyang cold noodles.

Last year, “Pyongyang Raengmyon Custom” was inscribed as a representative intangible cultural heritage of mankind.