What is Dalgona Candy and Why is it Suddenly so Popular?

Dalgona candy has become an international sensation after being featured in the hit Netflix series Squid Game. But what exactly is this delicate Korean sweet treat? And how did it go from retro street food to global fame? Let‘s take a closer look at the history, meaning, and making of dalgona.

A Brief History of Dalgona

Dalgona first emerged in South Korea as a popular street food during the 1970s and 1980s. The name comes from the Korean phrase “dalguna” (달구나) which translates to “it’s sweet”. It’s also commonly called “ppopgi” (뽑기) referring to the game-like reward of getting the candy from street vendors.

The bittersweet toffee-like candy was made by street sellers as a fun treat for kids. The vendors would use small tin molds to shape the dalgona into cute animals or shapes. Kids could get one for free if they successfully removed the shape from the mold without cracking it.

While exact origins are unclear, some accounts credit dalgona as being invented by a salesman promoting Nescafe coffee in the 1960s-70s. Others say it was likely adapted from a Japanese candy. Either way, it became a classic Korean street food for decades.

Dalgona’s popularity eventually declined as other candies and snacks emerged. But in recent years, street vendors started selling it again for that nostalgic retro appeal. Then in 2020, it exploded globally thanks to Squid Game.

The Dalgona Challenge in Squid Game

In episode 2 of the thriller series Squid Game, the characters compete in a challenge involving dalgona candy. They must use a needle to cut out intricate shapes stamped in the center without cracking the brittle candy. Failure means elimination from the deadly contest.

This intense dalgona challenge scene sparked a viral craze for the candy. Fans recreated it and shared videos carving out the shapes. The #dalgonachallenge hashtag has over 5 billion views on TikTok.

Squid Game has made dalgona internationally famous. According to data from eBay, global sales for dalgona candy kits skyrocketed by more than 2000% after the show‘s premiere.

How to Make Dalgona Candy

Part of the appeal of dalgona is in making the light, honeycomb-like candy yourself. It only requires two ingredients – sugar and baking soda.

The basic process is:

• Add 1 cup of white sugar to a pot over medium heat
• Continuously stir and break down the granules as it melts
• Once melted into a golden caramel color, remove from heat
• Add 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda and vigorously stir
• It will rapidly foam up – keep mixing until thickened
• Quickly shape or mold the pliable candy before it hardens

It‘s important to continuously stir the sugar as it melts to prevent burning. And don‘t over-mix the baking soda or it can get too bubbly. The finished dalgona should have a honeycomb-like texture.

Playing the Dalgona Candy Game

Once you’ve made a batch of dalgona, you can try the Squid Game challenge yourself. Use a cookie cutter or mold to shape the warm dalgona into a circle, star, umbrella, or triangle.

Let it fully harden, then use a toothpick to carve out that central shape without breaking the brittle candy. This takes a very gentle, patient touch! Out of the four shapes, the triangle is generally the easiest to extract successfully.

My first few attempts ended up in pieces. But it‘s surprisingly satisfying when you manage to remove the entire shape cleanly. This traditional Korean street food game shows why dalgona is also called “ppopgi” – translating to “pick out” in Korean.

Eating Dalgona Candy

If your dalgona survives the shaping game intact, you can eat this sweet and smoky treat. It has a texture like honeycomb toffee or styrofoam that quickly dissolves in your mouth. The taste is sweet upfront, then becomes slightly bitter.

Dalgona on its own has an acquired taste. But you can also enjoy it:

• Crumbled over ice cream or cake
• Mixed into milk like cereal
• Combined with coffee to make dalgona coffee

Dalgona coffee has become trendy too. It’s made by whipping equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water into a creamy froth and adding milk. The coffee takes on a similar honeycomb texture as the candy.

Why Dalgona Became a Global Sensation

There are several reasons why dalgona has become so popular internationally:

• Squid Game – The riveting Netflix show introduced it to millions of new fans and spurred a viral online craze recreating the challenge.

• Satisfying to Make – The process of melting the sugar and making the bubbly, foam-like candy is very hands-on and rewarding.

• Novel Texture – The light, crisp, melt-in-your mouth texture is unique and intriguing. It feels different than typical hard candy.

• Korean Wave – South Korean entertainment like K-Pop and movies has made their culture, including food, trendy worldwide.

• Retro Appeal – As a classic street food treat, it evokes nostalgia for “old school” candy.

• Cute Factor – Shaping dalgona into hearts, stars, animals makes it visually fun and Instagrammable.

Dalgona has all the hallmarks of a winning viral food craze – it tastes good, it‘s easy to DIY, and it looks great online. While it has deep roots in Korean street food history, this humble candy has now become a global pop culture sensation.

I hope this provided lots of sweet insight into the origins, making, and significance of dalgona candy! Let me know if you have any other questions.