Teatime in North Korea – or the lack thereof | NK News
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September 28, 2026Sep 28, 2026

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Ask A North Korean

Teatime in North Korea – or the lack thereof

Northerners in the provinces don't have the luxury – literally – of tea

Every week we ask a North Korean your questions, giving you the chance to learn more about the country we know so little about.

This week’s question is:

Do North Koreans still follow traditional Korean tea production methods? Do they still follow traditional tea ceremony rites?

When I was growing up in North Korea, I didn’t see people enjoying tea. I guess some people in Pyongyang may have enjoyed it in their free time, but I never saw anyone have an afternoon teatime in my hometown. Actually, I hadn’t even heard of tea in North Korea. This may shock you,