(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

These colorful Korean confections have graced holiday tables for generations. While the word hangwa technically covers all traditional sweets -- from fruit jellies to taffies -- it‘s most associated with cookies made from grain flour, deep-fried and lavished with honey or grain syrup.

The family includes gangjeong (crispy rice cookies studded with puffed grains), yakgwa (honey-soaked pastries), and yougwa (coated rice puffs). Each variety brings its own texture, but all share a dazzling sweetness, sometimes accented with sesame, ginger, or a hint of rice wine.

You’ll spot these treats gracing the tables during major holidays like Chuseok or the Lunar New Year, often stacked in impressive towers. Though they‘ve been losing ground to Western desserts lately, these traditional treats never cease to charm with their distinct flavors and artful presentation.

If you want a taste of old Korea, these legacy sweets offer a glimpse into traditional celebrations.

(Hangwa, traditional Korean sweets, Korean rice cookies, honey-glazed rice treats, traditional hangwa confections)