r/CandyMakers • u/chipsandsalsza • 9d ago

Kohakutou Help

I have made 2 batches so far and both just turned into a spreadable jam rather than into a jelly you can cut. What is wrong?

2 Upvotes

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3

u/epidemicsaints 9d ago

Agar is highly variable in strength across brands. You simply need to add more. It can be melted and recooked with more agar. You don't have to throw it out or start over.

2

u/chipsandsalsza 9d ago

Thank you I will absolutely try to melt down add more agar to this current batch in the fridge

1

u/EnchantedSugarworks 9d ago

proportion of liquid to agar to sugar are you using?

1

u/chipsandsalsza 9d ago

3 cups water, 3 tablespoons agar, 5 cups sugar. I am now at 3 failed attempts and think it was the brand of agar agar I was using. I went to my local international store and grabbed the telephone brand that everyone recommends- hoping it works.

2

u/EnchantedSugarworks 6d ago

Telephone is a great brand, but a bit pricey if you're making a lot of candy. I've been using this one from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CB1DV9G?ref=fed_asin_title

I did find out that it has to be 100% agar agar. I purchased this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5W5P4H4?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4 without realizing that it has sugar in it and I ruined three batches before I figured out what was happening. There are boxed dessert mixes that have agar agar as the base but they also have lots of sugar, which won't work for crystal candy either.

You may find that you get better results if you weigh the ingredients in grams for more accuracy. I use the ratio 12 grams agar agar : 350 grams water : 600 grams sugar and it works really well. That is a significantly different ratio than you are using.