#Dalgona
The #Dalgona hashtag went viral in fall 2021 after Netflix’s Squid Game featured the Korean honeycomb candy in a deadly challenge, inspiring millions to attempt making and carefully extracting shapes from the delicate sugar treats.
What Is Dalgona?
Dalgona (ppopgi in Korean) is:
- Korean street candy made from melted sugar and baking soda
- Honeycomb texture from chemical reaction
- Stamped shapes (circle, triangle, star, umbrella)
- Challenge: extract shape without breaking it
- Childhood treat in Korea since the 1960s-70s
The Squid Game Scene
In Episode 3, players must:
- Lick or carefully pick their shape from the dalgona
- Don’t break it or face elimination (death)
- 10 minutes to complete the task
- Umbrella shape revealed as hardest
- Life or death stakes for childhood game
TikTok Explosion
#Dalgona became TikTok phenomenon:
- Millions attempting to make the candy at home
- Shape extraction challenges going viral
- Failed attempts burning sugar everywhere
- Successful extractions oddly satisfying
- Umbrella attempts usually ending in disaster
Making Dalgona at Home
The viral recipe trend:
- 2 tablespoons sugar in ladle over heat
- Pinch of baking soda when melted
- Pour and press with flat surface
- Stamp shape with cookie cutter
- Carefully extract without breaking
Confusion with Dalgona Coffee
Many confused with:
- Dalgona coffee (whipped coffee) from 2020 pandemic
- Totally different despite same name
- Dalgona = honeycomb candy
- Dalgona coffee = whipped instant coffee drink
- Both went viral but separate trends
Cultural Impact
#Dalgona represented:
- Korean culture going mainstream globally
- Squid Game’s influence on food trends
- TikTok challenge culture around TV content
- Nostalgic Korean treat introduced worldwide
- Difficulty making Instagram-worthy results
Street Vendor Revival
The trend led to:
- Dalgona vendors returning to Korean streets
- Tourist interest in trying authentic version
- Korean markets selling dalgona kits
- Increased visibility for traditional snacks
- Economic boost for street food culture
Challenges and Fails
Common issues:
- Burning sugar - timing is everything
- Brittle texture - breaks easily
- Umbrella impossibility - hardest shape
- Kitchen messes from failed attempts
- Fire hazards from home attempts
Why It Went Viral
#Dalgona succeeded because:
- Simple ingredients (sugar, baking soda)
- Satisfying process when successful
- Challenge element from the show
- Shareable results on social media
- Low barrier to entry but high skill ceiling
Legacy
#Dalgona introduced global audiences to:
- Korean traditional snacks and street food
- Challenge culture around TV content
- How shows can drive food trends
- Korean childhood nostalgia
- Power of Squid Game cultural influence
The hashtag demonstrated how a fictional deadly game could turn a regional childhood treat into a global food phenomenon, with millions attempting the delicate challenge despite the significantly lower stakes than in the show.