Dalgona (달고나, ppopgi in Korean), is a traditional Korean candy that goes back to the 1960s and 1970s, when kids in Korea would spend their pocket money on dalgona after school. Then came Squid Game in 2021. One episode features contestants trying to cut out shapes from the candy under life-or-death pressure, and dalgona’s fame skyrocketed.
In Korea, dalgona is usually sold by street vendors who would make the candy right in front of you. Dalgona is made from just two ingredients: sugar and baking soda. The sugar is melted until golden, then baking soda is stirred in to create a frothy, airy texture. The foamy mix is poured onto a flat surface, quickly pressed into a round disk, and stamped with shapes like stars or umbrellas.
Dalgona has a caramel-like flavor with a tiny hint of bitterness, making it similar to honeycomb candy in taste and texture. Both are made by heating sugar and adding a leavening agent (baking soda), which creates a light and airy structure as it hardens.
Right after Squid Game you could find dalgona vendors everywhere, but today it’s more of a challenge. The dalgona vendor I found had his shop on a small walking street but it’s been a couple of years since my last visit, so I’m not sure if the shop is still there.
If you’re curious about making your own dalgona, here’s my recipe:
Recipe: Dalgona – Traditional Korean candy
Or maybe you’re curious about dalgona coffee?
