All About Korean Tteok (Rice Cakes): Tradition and Modernity in a Chewy Delight

Rice cakes such as Gyeongdan, Baekseolgi, and Honey Tteok arranged on a platter look delicious. Introduction — Korean tteok: a cultural symbol beyond a simple dessert Dear readers, greetings! Today, I would like to introduce you in detail to a traditional Korean food, tteok. This article will cover the origins, characteristics, varieties, and modern transformations of tteok, with the hope that it will help you, dear readers, gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture. Korean tteok (tteok) is not simply a food made primarily from rice. It is a cultural symbol that embodies the lives, history, and sentiments of the Korean people, and a traditional food handed down through generations. Often called “rice cake,” Korean tteok actually carries meanings and an identity that are quite distinct from Western rice cakes. Its chewy texture, delicate colors, and nutty or sweet flavors are distinctive charms unique to Korean tteok. Moreover, tteok is not merely something to eat; it also funct...