탕후루

While homemade Tanghulu had a brief period of popularity around 2018, its full-fledged craze began in South Korea after Q1-Q2 2023. It gained explosive popularity, especially among young women, establishing itself as a representative food trend of 2023. However, as winter 2023 began, its popularity gradually waned due to market oversaturation, and by 2024, its prominence had significantly declined compared to its 2023 peak.

Tanghulu is a traditional Chinese snack made by skewering small fruits and coating them with sugar syrup and corn syrup. Originating in China, believed to date back to the Song Dynasty, it has been a beloved winter street food. In South Korea, its massive popularity in 2023 elevated it beyond a mere snack to a social phenomenon. Its unique texture, with a crispy sugar coating and bursting fruit juice, made it highly popular in ASMR content on social media platforms like TikTok, leading to its spread as a meme. This meme is sometimes used to encompass the broader phenomenon surrounding Tanghulu, including social controversies such as health concerns and waste issues, beyond just the snack's popularity.

Primarily consumed by teenagers and young adults in their teens and twenties, especially women. The fact that the main audience for ASMR content was also in their teens and twenties significantly contributed to its widespread popularity.

Due to its high sugar content, Tanghulu can cause blood sugar spikes and has been warned to potentially increase the risk of childhood diabetes. Furthermore, its hard and sticky sugar coating is very detrimental to dental health, posing risks such as tooth damage, cavities, and dislodging braces. After consuming Tanghulu, it is crucial to rinse your mouth with warm water and brush your teeth within 30 minutes.

Socially, the sticky sugar residue and sharp wooden skewers discarded on streets have become an issue. The sugar residue contaminates pavements and attracts insects, while the wooden skewers pose an injury risk to sanitation workers. Consequently, some establishments have implemented "No Tanghulu Zones." If making it at home, extreme caution is required as the high-temperature sugar syrup can cause severe burns.

Tanghulu (pronounced "Tahng-hoo-loo")