Pine needles traditionally line the steamer when Korean songpyeon is cooked for Chuseok.
Songpyeon are half-moon-shaped rice cakes strongly associated with the Korean harvest festival. Cooks place the shaped cakes in layers with fresh pine needles during steaming. The needles help keep pieces from sticking together and impart a distinctive pine fragrance.
The Korean word songpyeon is connected with the pine tree, reflecting this traditional cooking method. The cakes are commonly made from rice flour and filled with ingredients such as sesame seeds, beans, chestnuts, or sweetened mixtures, although recipes vary by region and household.
Pine needles are not simply decorative. Their practical use gives songpyeon part of its characteristic aroma and helps separate the rice cakes in the steamer. Modern cooks may use substitutes or steaming cloths, but pine needles remain the classic Chuseok association.