Korean Black Sugar Candy | Heuksatang Hard Drops | 9.87 oz
Korean black sugar candy (heuksatang, 흑사탕) is a 9.87 oz bag of hard candy made in Korea, flavored with unrefined cane sugar and 1% black sugar, with 28 individually wrapped 10 g pieces.
What Korean black sugar candy is
Heuksatang is the plain, dark, old-fashioned hard candy Koreans grew up with — the one from a grandmother's coat pocket. The taste is warm and molasses-like, closer to brown sugar or dark caramel than to fruit candy, and it dissolves slowly. This is Ilkwang's "Black Sugar Candy 2," flavored with unrefined cane sugar and 1% black sugar (흑설탕).
Before flavored candies filled the shelves, this was Korean candy: a dark square with a roasted sweetness, sold by the handful at the corner shop — still in the same plain black wrapper.
Made in Korea, distributed by Ilkwang Confectionery
Made in Korea by Chilsung Confectionery (칠성제과) in Sacheon and distributed by Ilkwang Confectionery (일광제과) of Busan; the bag is marked Product of Korea. Kosbee stocks it in New Jersey and ships within one business day.
Key facts
- Origin
- Korea — Chilsung Confectionery; distributed by Ilkwang (일광제과), Busan.
- Type
- Hard candy, individually wrapped.
- Ingredients
- Starch syrup, sugar, unrefined cane sugar, black sugar (1%), black sugar flavor, caramel color (Class III), vanillin.
- Net weight
- 9.87 oz (280 g) per bag — 28 pieces of 10 g each.
- Per piece
- 40 calories, 10 g carbohydrate, 8 g total sugars (all added), 0 g fat, 0 mg sodium, as printed.
- Allergens
- Contains none of the major allergens. Made in a facility that also processes milk, soybean, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and pork (gelatin).
- Storage
- Keep in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
How to enjoy Korean black sugar candy
How many pieces are a serving?
One piece is the usual serving — 10 g and 40 calories — and a bag holds 28. Unwrap and let it dissolve. It pairs well with barley tea or black coffee, and some Korean home cooks melt a piece into a braise in place of a spoon of brown sugar.
Before you eat it
This is a hard candy: let each piece dissolve rather than biting it, which can chip a tooth, and never swallow a piece whole. Keep it away from small children, who can choke on hard candy, and enjoy it in moderation (8 g added sugar per piece). It contains no listed allergens, but it is made in a facility that also handles milk, soybean, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and pork-derived gelatin, so trace cross-contact is possible.
Telling Korean black sugar candy apart
Korean heuksatang vs Japanese kokuto candy — what's the difference?
Kokuto candy is usually a solid lump of Okinawan unrefined sugar — crumbly and mineral. Heuksatang is a boiled hard candy flavored with unrefined cane sugar and black sugar: smoother, milder, and far longer-lasting, with a dark-caramel finish. Dalgona, the honeycomb toffee, is different again — see the FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Korean black sugar candy really made in Korea?
Yes. It is made in Korea by Chilsung Confectionery (칠성제과) in Sacheon and distributed by Ilkwang Confectionery (일광제과) of Busan, and the bag is marked Product of Korea. Each 9.87 oz (280 g) bag holds 28 individually wrapped 10 g pieces, and Kosbee ships it from New Jersey.
What is Korean black sugar candy made of?
The ingredients as printed are starch syrup, sugar, unrefined cane sugar, 1% black sugar, black sugar flavor, caramel color, and vanillin. It is a boiled hard candy flavored with unrefined and black sugar, not a solid block of raw sugar, so the taste is a smooth caramel-molasses sweetness. One 10 g piece is 40 calories with 8 g of added sugar.
Korean heuksatang vs Japanese kokuto candy — what's the difference?
Kokuto candy is typically a lump of Okinawan unrefined sugar itself: crumbly, mineral, and quick to dissolve. Korean heuksatang is a glassy hard candy built on starch syrup and sugar and flavored with unrefined cane sugar and black sugar, so it is smoother, milder, longer-lasting, and finishes like dark caramel rather than raw molasses.
Is black sugar candy the same as dalgona candy?
No. Dalgona is a brittle honeycomb toffee made by melting sugar with baking soda and pressing it flat, the candy seen at Korean street stalls and on screen. Heuksatang is a dense, individually wrapped hard drop with no baking soda, made to dissolve slowly rather than snap. Both taste of brown sugar, but texture and eating style are completely different.
How should I eat and store Korean black sugar candy?
Let one piece dissolve slowly — the label advises against biting, which can chip a tooth, and against swallowing a piece whole; it is a choking hazard for small children. Keep the bag cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight, and read the label for the shared-facility allergen notice.
The Korean candy that never went out of style
Ships from New Jersey within one business day; orders of $60 or more ship free. Browse Korean Traditional Candy & Snacks, or try toasty Korean Scorched Rice Candy, warming Korean Cinnamon Candy, and sweet-salty Korean Bamboo Salt Candy.
