By Honorary Reporter Helia Nikzaddinan from Iran

Photo = Helia Nikzaddinan

Last summer, I visited Korea for 10 days as an Iranian participant in the Global Korean Scholarship Invitational Program for Students from Partner Countries. I got to experience lots of Korean culture, and especially enjoyed a class in making songpyeon.

The writer (left) makes songpyeon alongside another student. (Helia Nikzaddinan)

When I arrived at the class, three ladies dressed as chefs kindly welcomed everyone and me, showed us to our seats and started a presentation about Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and songpyeon. They explained what the holiday is and introduced many foods and drinks served during the holidays.

Songpyeon is a half-moon rice cake, but I consider it a sweet dumpling with a variety of filling like honey, soybeans, red beans and nuts. During Chuseok, Korean families make beautiful and delicious songpyeon and share it with their neighbors or relatives. An old Korean saying goes that whoever makes a beautiful rice cake is destined to meet a nice spouse or bear a blessed child.

After the presentation, the instructors showed how to make a typically shaped songpyeon, after which the class received ingredients to make our own. At the time, I was surprised by how colorful the treat could be. We were told that the traditional cake is shaped like a half moon but that the shape and color varies by person. The word "rice cake" always made me think of something white and round with no special taste, but songpyeon was totally different. I found it not only beautiful in shape but also sweet and tasty.

Songpyeon comes in a variety of shapes, colors and designs. (Helia Nikzaddinan)

enny0611@korea.kr


*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.