Everything About the Dalgona from Squid Game! : The Origin of Dalgona

All About Dalgona: From Its Origin to Squid Game

Have you ever watched Squid Game with sweaty palms, nervously observing the Dalgona game? 🎮 Who would have thought that this simple sugar candy would capture the hearts of people around the world? Thanks to the Netflix drama Squid Game and the 2020 home café trend driven by “Dalgona coffee,” Dalgona has now become a global sensation beyond Korea.

More than just a sweet snack, Dalgona is a special treat that carries Korea’s history and culture. Today, let’s explore the fascinating story behind this small and sweet candy—from its origins and history to how you can make it yourself at home.

The Beginning of the Name “Dalgona”

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Dalgona is a traditional Korean candy made by adding a bit of baking soda to melted sugar to make it puff up. But why is it called “Dalgona”? The most widely accepted theory is that when it was first made in Busan in the early 1960s, someone who tasted it—made by heating glucose chunks—exclaimed, "It’s sweeter than sugar!" in Korean, which sounded like “Dalgona,” and the name stuck.

The History of Dalgona

The history of Dalgona dates back to the 1950s during the Korean War. At the time, everything was in short supply due to the war, and especially children had very little to eat. It is believed that Dalgona first appeared around Busan Port, where U.S. military aid was being delivered. Initially made by melting glucose chunks, it eventually evolved to use sugar, which was easier to obtain.

In the 1960s and 70s, Dalgona became the most popular street snack sold in front of schools or alley shops. For children with little pocket money, it was an affordable source of sweet joy. Melting sugar in a ladle, carefully shaping it, and trying to carve out the shape with friends became a cherished childhood memory for many.

🧪 The Science of Dalgona: How Does It Puff Up?

The most fascinating moment when making Dalgona is watching it puff up white after adding baking soda. Here’s the interesting science behind it:

Caramelization: When sugar is heated above 160°C, it breaks down and turns brown, releasing a sweet aroma in a process called caramelization.
Carbon Dioxide Generation: When baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is added, it decomposes from the heat and releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas.
Honeycomb Structure: The gas gets trapped inside the sticky caramelized sugar, forming the crispy, hole-filled honeycomb texture unique to Dalgona.

Thanks to this simple chemical reaction, we can enjoy Dalgona’s hard yet melt-in-your-mouth texture.

The Global Dalgona Craze

1. Dalgona Coffee (2020)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, with people staying home longer, making “Dalgona coffee” became a viral trend. This coffee, made by whipping instant coffee, sugar, and water over 400 times into a creamy foam and placing it atop milk, resembled the appearance of Dalgona, hence the name. This home café challenge spread worldwide through social media, widely introducing the name “Dalgona” globally.

2. Squid Game (2021)

Then in 2021, the Netflix original series Squid Game exploded in popularity around the globe, bringing Dalgona back into the spotlight. In the drama, the intense scene where participants risk their lives to carve out Dalgona shapes with a needle left a strong impression on viewers worldwide. The “Squid Game Candy Challenge” trended on TikTok and elsewhere, with many people sharing videos of themselves making Dalgona and attempting the game, further fueling the craze.

Dalgona Recipe: Make It at Home

What You’ll Need:

A ladle or small saucepan
2–3 tablespoons of sugar
A pinch of baking soda (just a dab with a chopstick)
Chopsticks, a press (or flat plate), cookie cutters, parchment paper

How to Make It:

Add sugar to the ladle and slowly melt over low heat. (Don’t stir with chopsticks—gently swirl the ladle instead to avoid burning!)
Once the sugar is fully melted and becomes a clear brown syrup, remove from heat briefly.
Add a pinch of baking soda and stir quickly in one direction with chopsticks. It will start puffing into a creamy beige foam.
Pour the puffed mixture onto parchment paper.
Let it cool for about 5 seconds, then gently press it flat with the press.
Firmly stamp the center with a cookie cutter to finish!

🤩 Tip: Using too much baking soda will make it bitter, so add only a tiny amount. Since the process moves quickly, it’s best to have all your materials ready beforehand.

From Nostalgia to Cultural Icon

Dalgona is no longer just a nostalgic snack from the 70s and 80s. What started as a small comfort for children amid the ruins of war has evolved into a global cultural icon through Dalgona coffee and Squid Game.

This small sugar candy carries with it Korean history and stories, as well as a joy that people around the world can relate to. The sweet charm of Dalgona is likely to continue for a long time. How about making Dalgona at home with your family or friends tonight and sharing some sweet memories together?