Black Ice Cream Is The Latest Summer Treat Trend: Here’s What It Really Is And Where To Get It

Lauren Keating, Tech Times 06 June 2016, 10:06 pm

Like the song goes, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream," that is exactly what many might feel like doing when taking a look at the latest foodie trend — and maybe not in a good way. However, give this summer treat a chance, even if it's just for a good Instagram photo.

Black ice cream is the new treat taking over Instagram feeds this summer. Post after post using the hashtag features jet-black soft-served ice cream swirled perfectly on top of a black cone. To complete the all-black-everything look, toppings like Oreos are sometimes added.

Then, there are some variations of the black ice cream trend that feature a black cone with blue-and-purple-colored hard-served ice cream that definitely give a pop of contrast in a photo, or a scoop of hard-served black ice cream with one scoop of vanilla on a traditional cone.

However, no matter how it's served, the important thing to know is what the hell it even tastes like before indulging like everyone else on Instagram. Eaters beware: it will leave your tongue and lips black.

So, what exactly is this bizarre new food trend, and where can you find it when feeling daring enough to try it?

The black charcoal-colored ice cream is served at Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream shop located in New York City. The ice cream parlor serves options like Bourbon Vanilla, Caramel Salted Pretzel and Lemon Espresso, along with a variety of special flavors. One of these special flavors is Black Coconut Ash, better known on Instagram as black ice cream.

A photo posted by lauren (@reallifehappened) on Jun 3, 2016 at 6:55am PDT

Black Coconut Ash is not just dark chocolate ice cream with black food dye used from squid ink. It's a new flavor in itself made from the "charred and processed remains of a coconut shell."

This means that, technically, the food is a form of activated charcoal. While this might have customers opting for a better taste bud-appealing flavor, Black Coconut Ash is actually said to be quiet refreshing — perfect when wanting to cool off this summer. The ash is combined with coconut flakes, coconut cream and coconut milk to make the finished product.

However, is eating coconut ash even healthy?

Some say that activated charcoal can be detoxifying for the body. The ingredient binds to toxins in the GI tract and helps get rid of unwanted substances. Activated charcoal has been added to waters and juices as of late as a believed detox, and is even sometimes used in treating food poisoning or a drug overdose.

However, before customers starting flocking outside this New York City shop, keep in mind that the black ice cream isn't exactly going to make you skinny or even get rid of toxins at all. The truth is that there just aren't enough studies that prove activated charcoal can rid the body of the bad stuff.

One study even found that it could be harmful, since its binding abilities can diffuse the amount of nutrients absorbed by the body, so you might want to eat it at your own risk in moderation.

From the looks of it on Instagram, people have no problem tasting the new flavor that can match their all-black-everything vibe. Who needs rainbow bagels, grilled cheese and coffee when New Yorkers have black ice cream?