One day in early March 2008, Chairman Kim Jong Il said to the officials concerned: Rice-wormwood cake is a food peculiar to our nation.       From olden times, our ancestors dried wormwood to put it inside the pillows, and used it for medical purpose. They also made rice cake and other various foods by mixing them with it.

   Wormwood is well-known as a medicinal herb among our people.

   Wormwood is explained in the legend of Tangun, the founding father of Ancient Joson. This shows that our ancestors had a full understanding of its medicinal effect and used it in their life from ancient times.

   In our country it has become a custom for all families to pick young leaves of wormwood growing in mountains and on fields every spring, and mix it with grain flour to make cake.

   Rice-wormwood cake has stronger fragrance and stickier taste than other cakes. Once made, it doesn’t go bad or hard easily. It ranks among health foods as its various medicinal ingredients are effective in treating illness caused by body chill and strengthening the stomach and bowels.

   That day, Kim Jong Il stressed the need to maintain and further develop the traditions of foods peculiar to the nation and promote such national foods as rice-wormwood cake.