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Black homage to chameleons, lizards that many species of
which have the ability to change color. Linares’ ice
Black ice cream is not as common as other col- cream changes from periwinkle to pink when it is
ors, but can be found in some parts of the world. In licked. The color change process isa result of chang-
China, black sesame seeds are used to give black es in temperature coupled with chemical interactions
sesame ice cream its distinctive color and flavor. brought on by contact with the acids that are found
Black sesame seeds are a type of seed that has been inside the human mouth.
used in Chinese cuisine for thousands of years. They These are just two examples of how ice cream
are often used in savory dishes, but are also used to makers are experimenting with color to create new
make sweets and desserts. Black sesame ice cream experiences. Much like coffee and tea, ice cream is
is a popular flavor in China and other parts of Asia. something that people all over the world enjoy. There
In Sweden, black ice cream is made with a type are also endless possibilities when it comes to flavor,
of black licorice called lakrits. Lakrits is a popular ingredients, shape, function and colors. Color, in
flavor in Sweden and is often used to flavor candy, particular, is a quality that can be used to create
cookies, and other desserts. The licorice root is what both visual and taste-based experiences that are
gives lakrits its distinctive black color. Although it truly unique. It is one of the first things we notice
is not as common, black licorice ice cream can also about ice cream and it can be used to great effect to
be found in other parts of Europe, such as Finland, make an already delicious treat even more enjoyable.
Denmark, and the Netherlands. So, the next time you see an ice cream color that is
It is always interesting to see how a culture can a little out of the ordinary, don’t be afraid to give it
transform a simple food item like ice cream into a try! You may just find your new favorite flavor.
something that is unique and reflective of its local
produce, customs and traditions. The next time you
are in a foreign country, be sure to try some of the
local ice cream flavors to get a taste of the culture.

New Explorations

There are many other colors of ice cream that
can be found around the world, some more and some
less common. The most popular colors of ice cream
are usually white and brown because those are the
colors of milk and chocolate. Other colors include
pink, which is often made with strawberry or rasp-
berry flavoring; yellow, which can be lemon or ba-
nana flavored; and orange, which is most commonly
associated with citrus sherbet.
But what you don’t encounter very often is ice
cream that glows in the dark or changes color as you
eat it. And yet, both of these ice creams exist! Back
in 2013, UK-based company, Lick Me I’m Delicious,
worked with some scientists in China to create an
ice cream that glows in the dark. The team used
chemically recreated jellyfish protein to create the
effect. The ice cream reacts to your tongue, increas-
ing the protein’s pH level every time you lick. In
simple words, the more you lick the ice cream, the
more it glows.
Manuel Linares, a Spanish physicist and cook,
invented a kind of ice cream that changes colors as
you lick it. He calls it “Xamaleón.” The name pays

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