When you think of Korean cuisine, dishes like kimchi, bulgogi, or bibimbap might come to mind first but there's another star that quietly carries centuries of culture, celebration, and comfort: Korean Rice Cake, known as Tteok.
Whether you're biting into a chewy street snack or sharing a beautifully layered rice cake at a wedding, Tteok is more than food: it's tradition, love, and memory in every bite.
What Is Tteok?
Tteok is a Korean rice cake made primarily from glutinous rice (sweet rice) or regular rice, steamed, pounded, and shaped into a wide variety of textures, colors, and flavors. It can be chewy, soft, dense, or stretchy, depending on how it's made.
You'll find it in everyday meals, birthdays, ancestral rituals (jesa), New Year celebrations (Seollal), and even weddings. Tteok is deeply woven into Korean life and culture.
Types of Korean Rice Cake You’ll Love
Korean rice cakes come in dozens of varieties, here are just a few delicious favorites:
1. Garaetteok
- Long, white cylindrical tteok used in rice cake soup (tteokguk) and tteokbokki.
- Symbolizes long life and good fortune.
2. Tteokbokki
- Spicy stir-fried rice cakes in gochujang sauce, popular Korean street food and comfort food favorite. Sweet, spicy, and chewy goodness in every bite.
3. Baekseolgi
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Steamed white rice cake, soft and fluffy. Commonly used in birthdays and celebrations. get here
4. Injeolmi
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Chewy, pounded rice cake coated in roasted soybean powder. Nutty, subtle, and addictive. Taste it here
5. Hwajeon
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Beautiful flower-decorated rice cakes made for special occasions in spring.
6. Cream Tteok (Modern Twist)
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Soft, mochi-like rice cake filled with whipped or flavored cream. Popular among younger generations and dessert lovers. Get different flavors here.
Why You Should Try It (Wherever You Are)
Korean rice cake isn’t just a snack, it’s a cultural experience. And now, it’s easier than ever to enjoy it globally. Whether you’re adventurous with food or looking for healthier, gluten-free options, Tteok offers:
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Variety of textures and flavors
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Vegan and gluten-free options
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Minimal ingredients, maximum satisfaction
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A perfect intro to Korean tradition
Where to Get Korean Rice Cakes
You can find Tteok at Hanpoom or Kim's Basket and more plus, new flavors are on the way!
Final Thoughts: Tteok Is More Than a Treat
From a grandmother’s homemade injeolmi to trendy cream-filled tteok in Seoul cafés, Korean rice cake continues to evolve while staying deeply rooted in tradition. It’s humble yet beautiful, simple yet meaningful.
One bite, and you’re not just tasting food, you’re tasting history.
So next time you’re looking for a snack, dessert, or something new to explore: say yes to Tteok. It might just become your favorite kind of comfort.