Making “dalgona coffee”, which is made by stirring coffee powder and sugar with water at least 400 times, has become a trend on social media. (image: Instagram)
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — With the sweeping spread of the coronavirus, a growing number of South Koreans are staying at home, practicing “social distancing.”
While spending time at home has increased, unusual hobbies that can be done indoors are gaining popularity.
Recently, making “dalgona coffee”, which is made by stirring coffee powder and sugar with water at least 400 times, has become a trend on social media.
With the trend slightly altered, a “soufflé omelet” has recently emerged. To make a soufflé omelet, one needs to stir the eggs 1,000 times.
Perhaps due to the unusual hobby, sales of milk foam machines, or whipping machines, increased 79 percent in the past month, from Feb. 11 to March 12, according to online shopping mall Gmarket.
Sales of hand mixers increased by 67 percent and tea bag coffee by 15 percent. All of these items are necessary to make “dalgona coffee.”
Meanwhile, sprouts needed for the popular bean sprout and green onion indoor garden trend these days saw a 25 percent increase in sales, while sales of vegetable seeds grew by 17 percent.
Furthermore, sales of coloring book sets, a typical hobby that can be done at home, increased 125 percent, and sudoku and puzzles also surged 954 percent.
A “Tanghulu Kit” launched by convenience store chain GS25 on Feb. 28 also saw its cumulative sales surpass 100,000 within 15 days of its release.
Tanghulu is a snack introduced in Korea through social media and TV. It is an exotic fruit dessert, prepared by putting various fruits such as hawthorn fruit on a long wooden stick and coating it with syrup.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
