People visit booths at an international agriculture and foodstuff exhibition at the Indoor Stadium in Pyongyang on Nov. 11, 2019. (image: Korean Central News Agency)
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — North Koreans are also interested in luxuries instead of necessities when it comes to dining culture, according to a recent exhibition.
From November 11 to 14, the Pyongyang International Agriculture and Foodstuff Exhibition took place at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, shedding insight on food trends among North Koreans.
According to an article posted on Friday by Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s state-run newspaper, the exhibition focused primarily on health supplements and packaged foods.
Kaesong Koryo, a North Korean ginseng brand, introduced ginseng tea, juice, and other products.
Honey collected from Mount Kumgang, lingzhi mushrooms, and beverages made with water from the same mountain were a delight to visitors.
The exhibition also showcased supplements for smoking cessation, such as anti-smoking pills, bamboo salt tea, and beverages made of amur cork bark and sophora.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, 43.9 percent of North Korean adults are smokers. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is often seen in photos holding a cigarette.
“Quitting smoking is a global trend that is good for health, and more people are making efforts to stop smoking,” said the Rodong Sinmun.
“That is why smoking cessation products made of natural recipes and health supplements have been introduced to meet this demand.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
