The popularity of the Netflix TV show 'Squid Game' has sparked a resurgence of the traditional Korean sweet treat.
Squid Game, the South Korean survival drama series, has become one of the most popular shows in the history of Netflix. Dalgona candy, which was prominently featured in an episode showing contestants being forced to carve a shape out of the traditional sweet treat or be killed, has driven the demand for the candy through the roof.
An Yong-hu, the chef who made the candy for Squid Game, told Reuters that before the show, he was making around 200 Dalgona a day. Since Squid Game became a global sensation, his business has sky rocketed, producing more 500 candies daily, priced at about $2 apiece. To keep up with orders initially, he did not come home for a week.
On TikTok, the dalgona challenge has become a major trend, with videos showing people using a sewing needle to carve a shape out of the candy without breaking it garnering millions of views. Squid Game sees a group of indebted people compete for a prize of 45.6 billion won/US$38 million by playing a series of traditional Korean children’s games. However the losers in each round are condemned to death.
@saifshawaf How to make the perfect dalgona candy from the squid game
♬ Squid Game - Carrot
On TV, the consequences of the candy challenge may be deadly but making Dalgona can be fun and competitive off-screen. All you need is sugar and baking soda.
Melt the sugar until it is amber in colour, keep stirring the liquid to avoid crystallisation, then stir in a bit of baking soda. Next, pour it out onto parchment and press it with a cookie-cutter shape of your choice.
