Tteok (Korean Rice Cakes): History, Varieties, and the Rise of Tteokbokki Worldwide

Tteok is a traditional Korean food made from rice or glutinous rice flour. Unlike simple rice, tteok is steamed, pounded, or shaped into various forms, often with natural fillings like beans, nuts, or sesame seeds.

Historically, tteok has been more than just a snack. It symbolizes prosperity, good health, and celebration.

For centuries, tteok has played an important role in Korean life events:

• Baek-il (백일) & Doljanchi (돌잔치): Steamed rice cakes like baekseolgi (백설기) are prepared to celebrate a baby’s 100th day and first birthday, symbolizing purity and blessings.
• Weddings & Ancestral Rites: Tteok is shared among families as a symbol of harmony and respect.
• Festivals: During Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), families prepare songpyeon (송편) - half-moon rice cakes filled with sesame seeds, chestnuts, or red bean paste, believed to bring good fortune.

One of the most popular modern forms of rice cakes is tteokbokki (떡볶이).

Royal Origins: First recorded in the Joseon Dynasty, gungjung tteokbokki (궁중 떡볶이) was made with beef, vegetables, and soy sauce.

Street Food Favorite: In the 20th century, chili-based spicy tteokbokki became a national street food, loved for its fiery gochujang (red chili paste) sauce.

Modern Variations: Today, you can find cheese tteokbokki, seafood tteokbokki, carbonara tteokbokki, and even rosé tteokbokki, showing the dish’s adaptability.

Tteok continues to evolve, bridging Korea’s cultural past with its modern global presence. From traditional ceremonies to busy street markets and now supermarket shelves worldwide, tteok represents Korea’s ability to preserve tradition while embracing innovation.

Whether enjoyed as songpyeon during Chuseok, a bowl of spicy tteokbokki after school, or through a Bibigo instant kit abroad, rice cakes remain one of Korea’s most beloved foods.

teok is more than just a dish. It is a cultural legacy. Its history, versatility, and global appeal make it an essential part of understanding Korean cuisine. With the worldwide success of tteokbokki and Bibigo rice cake products, this traditional food continues to find new fans across the globe.