Edible Crystal Candy

Looking for a fun family friendly activity this holiday break? Try making edible crystal candy! This flavorful, fun activity is perfect for making a sweet treat that can be customized to whatever flavor and color your heart desires. Bonus they can even be given as a tasty holiday gift. These candies not only have a pretty appearance but a soft chewy interior and a crunchy exterior that gives it a satisfying crunch to bite into.

Edible crystals are a Japanese candy made from agar agar. The Japanese word for this candy is kohakutou which directly translates to “amber sugar.” While you may have seen these as the latest social media fad, they have existed in Japan since the creation of agar (which dates back to the Edo period from 1603 to 1868). Recent years have seen these candies transformed from their classic square or rectangle shape into dazzling crystal shapes with bright colors . Traditionally flavored with grapefruit or orange peels, a rise in popularity and entrance in to a more modern era has shifted to use of juice and extracts to create a broader range of flavors such as lychee and peach.

This candy uses agar (also known as agar-agar) as its base to give it that jelly-like consistency. Agar is a vegan gelatin substitute that is used as a thickening or stabilizing agent in many different recipes. It is especially popular among those who follow plant-based diets, as it provides similar textural properties to traditional gelatin without any animal products. Agar is a mix of polysaccharides derived from the cell wall of red algae, which is a type of seaweed. The unique ability of agar to set at room temperature and its high melting point make it an excellent choice for various desserts, jellies, and even some savory dishes, allowing for creativity in the kitchen while catering to dietary restrictions.

While prices of kohakutou can be relatively high when purchased in store of from online retailers, they are quite easy to make at home with ingredients that can be easily found online or in grocery stores.

Ingredients:

• 12 grams of agar agar
• 1 3/4 cups water
• 3 cups of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon flavoring of your choice (if using juice to flavor candy substitute the water for juice of your choice)
• food coloring

Instructions:

• add water (or juice) to a medium sized saucepan
• slowly sprinkle in agar powder and let bloom for five minutes
• bring the mixture to a simmer let cook over medium heat for 3 minutes while constantly stirring
• slowly add the sugar and let summer for another 3 minutes until sugar has dissolved
• remove from heat and add flavoring of your choice (if doing multiple flavors, separate into bowls before adding flavoring)
• pour into a baking sheet
• add a few drops of food coloring and use knife or toothpick to swirl color into candy mixture
• place the pan in the refrigerator and allow candy to chill until fully set (about two hours)
• remove the candy from the container and cut into crystal shapes
• place the crystal candies on baking sheet and let dry at room temperature for 3-4 days until a hard exterior forms on the outside
  • flip crystals halfway through

Once that hardened exterior is complete your crystals are done and ready to eat!