Maybe you’ve seen the show Squid Game (or MrBeast’s version or Netflix’s Squid Game: Challenge). If you have, then you know about the dalgona candy challenge, made popular by the show. Made with melted sugar and a pinch of baking soda, the candy has a shape imprinted, and the goal is to remove the stamped shape from the circle without breaking it. Last week, I stopped by Cocomero to buy a dalgona candy ($2.95) and try my luck at the game.
I bought the most difficult shape: the umbrella, but other shapes are available including heart and triangle. Cocomero’s dalgona candy looked as thin and delicate as the ones from the show, and it came with a wooden toothpick. The suspense was thrilling; could I do it?! After two confident minutes, I failed miserably. The Korean candy cracked into unrecognizable pieces, nothing resembling an umbrella remained. Split into brittle toffee pieces, the candy itself tasted yummy, and it was a fine consolation prize especially considering the fates of those who failed in original Squid Game show. This candy was a super fun way to live out my Squid Game dreams without serious consequence. Pro tip: buy more than one, so you’ll have more chances at winning the candy game because getting the shape out unscathed is challenging!
For more about Cocomero’s sweets, check out Matt’s review of the Campustown sweets shop and the frozen yogurt shop’s website.
Cocomero
709 S Wright St
Champaign
noon to 9:30 p.m., daily
