Dalgona is a type of Korean caramel candy made with sugar and baking soda. It¡¯s very simple to make. Put sugar in a brass ladle and hold it over heat to dissolve the sugar. Add a small amount of baking soda once the sugar boils and turns golden, and mix together. When the sugar mixture swells and hardens due to the baking soda, pour it onto an iron plate. Use a mold to press the sugar mixture flat and stamp it with a design to finish making dalgona. Dalgona is an interactive treat. Dalgona stalls offer customers the chance to try cutting out the shape the treat. The playful aspect made seeing students cutting out dalgona at the stalls after school a common sight.

This form of dalgona is believed to have existed since the 1960s. Although there is no official record of exactly when dalgona was first created, the sweet snack was mentioned in newspaper articles and novels from around that time. It is therefore no surprise that everyone, from the elderly to the relatively young, picks dalgona as a nostalgic snack. Most people have played with dalgona by cutting out the shape or shared it with a friend at least once in their life

It may seem as though dalgona has maintained the same appearance, but there have been changes to the sweet treat over the years. Dalgona was originally made with glucose instead of sugar. Today¡¯s dalgona is a sugar snack and originally called ppopgi (meaning to draw or select, referring to how shapes were ¡°drawn¡± or cut out from the treat).

As glucose quickly spoils if left at room temperature, sugar became the more popular alternative to make sweets. Soon, the original dalgona made with glucose faded into history, and ppopgi made with sugar remained. From then, ppopgi became synonymous with dalgona.

Dalgona has been consumed in Korea for such a long time that it has its own history. The ingredients and recipe remain the same, but the appearance has changed little by little in recent times. The changes were inspired by the attention dalgona received due to the global popularity of the drama ¡°Squid Game.¡± The drama gave Koreans a reason to reinvest in the value of dalgona, which has led to the incorporation of the candy in various desserts.

For example, new menus are being developed in Korea that feature dalgona-based drinks and desserts such as scones that use the candy to create a harmonious texture. New desserts are also being made by spreading dalgona on nurungji (scorched rice) or adding ingredients such as green tea to create a unique flavor. The dalgona craze may have passed, but many companies are still introducing new products with dalgona in 2024. It¡¯s easy to see why dalgona is known as the representative snack of Korea.

If you ever find yourself bored and looking for something to do, gather some sugar and baking soda. You can use the time to make dalgona and play the game. Every moment will be enjoyable, from making the candy to playing the game.