Paint It Black: A Closer Look at the Activated Charcoal Food Trend

Foods made with activated charcoal have been sweeping Instagram, with black ice cream, black burger buns, black smoothies and even black cheese appearing on our feeds.

In this blog post, we’re going to take a closer look at this intriguing food trend to uncover what it is, where it’s erupted from, and how exactly you can incorporate it into your restaurant menu.

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What is activated charcoal?

Activated charcoal is far more appetising than it sounds - it consists of charred coconut shells, nuts and other natural and perfectly edible materials. Unsurprisingly, it predates its presence in our Instagram feeds.

In fact, this gothic food trend started making the rounds in 2014, when influential Italian chef Molini Spigadoro made his own blackened pizza crust, owing his decision to the health benefits of cooking with activated charcoal.

A post shared by Molini_Spigadoro (@molini_spigadoro) on Jun 13, 2016 at 9:17am PDT

Molini’s blackened crusts proceeded a history of medicinal use, whereby charcoal has long been celebrated for its detoxifying prowess. Otherwise known as carbon or coconut ash, this substance is commonplace in hospitals where its potency is used (in very high concentrations!) to prevent poisons from being absorbed into the body. However, activated charcoal has begun to travel further afield into the food and hospitality industry, and has become a popular ingredient to add colour to everyday foods.

The increasing interest in clean eating has ignited charcoal’s popularity – pun intended. Now, whether it’s because of its health benefits or the fact it makes for a great Instagram post, charcoal-infused foods are populating menus and social media feeds across the globe.

How is activated charcoal made?

Unlike the coal you might see on your BBQ, activated charcoal is made by heating coconut shells, nuts, bamboo, wood or other natural materials to a high temperature. The substance is then combined with gasses to increase its surface area.

Where have I seen it before?

In your Instagram feed, most likely! From niche independent restaurants such as Little Damage, an ice cream parlour in LA, to international chains, such as Burger King in Japan, all kinds of restaurants have got on board with the activated charcoal food trend.

As black as your soul • our ice cream gets its color naturally from activated charcoal (& so do our cones)! @little.damage

A post shared by Little Damage Ice Cream shop???? (@little.damage) on Dec 30, 2017 at 7:01pm PST

However, its growing popularity in the food and catering industry has seen even top chefs all over the globe plate up black burger buns, black ice cream, black macarons and even black paninis.

How do I incorporate it into my menu?

The challenge for top chefs is that, despite its wealth of health benefits and striking colour, charcoal isn’t the most flavoursome ingredient to add to your menu! According to New York ice cream chef Nicholas Morgenstern, the key is to add it ‘in small doses’ – which is all you need to add a deep black hue.

Feast your eyes on the A.1. #HalloweenWhopper. And not on what's lurking behind you.

A post shared by Burger King (@burgerking) on Oct 3, 2015 at 3:51pm PDT

Morgenstern also suggests incorporating charcoal into beverages, as this is much easier than making a new dish from scratch just to accommodate the trend. So why not test the waters with a striking Perla Negra cocktail; made using activated charcoal, orange juice, honey, Arrack Liquer and lime juice, for a detox with a kick!

Before you experiment with gothic-inspired blackened dishes paired with stylish tableware from our extensive collection, don’t forget to stay up to speed on all the latest food and drinks trends of 2018 by reading our recent blog posts.