An Ice Cream Shop in Hong Kong is Serving Tear Gas Flavoured Ice Cream

By Syakir Roslan  •  15 May 2020 in News

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It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t enjoy a nice serving of ice cream. This classic dessert is perhaps one of the most customisable foods of all time. That being said, many ice-cream creators have gotten very creative with their toppings and flavours – so much so that it can even be used as a statement instead of just being a sweet treat.

A Hong Kong ice cream shop began selling tear gas flavoured ice cream in light of the ongoing protests in the country. In an article by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the shop’s owner stated that “the flavour is a sign of support for the pro-democracy movement, which is seeking to regain its momentum during the coronavirus pandemic.”

The ice cream is made from black peppercorns to give off the effect of what tear gas actually tastes like and is sold for about USD5 per serving. The peppercorns are first roasted and then grounded to be made into gelato. Before settling on black peppercorns, the shop attempted to create the flavour using other ingredients such as wasabi and mustard to simulate a burning aftertaste.

One customer who experienced getting tear gassed herself stated that the flavour actually…

“…tastes like tear gas. It feels difficult to breathe at first, and it’s really pungent and irritating. It makes me want to drink a lot of water immediately.”

She also mentioned that the ice cream gave her a flashback and reminded her of the pain she felt in the movement.

Despite their willingness to talk about the flavour, the shop insisted on doing so while remaining anonymous to avoid any repercussions from the government. They wanted to make a flavour to remind people that “they still have to persist in the protest movement” and they shouldn’t “lose their passion”.

Surprisingly, the unusual flavour has been a hit with the shop’s owner mentioning that he’d sell “20-30 scoops per day” before regulations for social distancing were made in regards to the Covid-19 outbreak.

While demonstrations have mostly stopped as the city fights the Coronavirus, many expect protest rallies to return around the summer.

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