An ice cream shop in Hong Kong has launched a tear-gas flavored snack.
The unique item is being sold to remind citizens of their treatment by police during the political protests which were being held before the coronavirus outbreak.
The parlor owner – who has chosen to remain anonymous – said: “We wanted to make a flavor that reminds people that they still have to persist in the protest movement and not to lose their passion…The flavor is a sign of support for the pro-democracy movement, which is seeking to regain its momentum during the coronavirus pandemic, the shop’s owner said. He spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid repercussions from the pro-Beijing government.”
The main ingredient is black peppercorns to remind people in Hong Kong of the weapons used by police against protesters.
Customer Anita Wong said: “It 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. I think it’s a flashback that reminds me of how painful I felt in the movement, and that I shouldn’t forget it.”
The unique flavor required lots of testing to get the perfect semblance to tear-gas.
The parlor owner noted he tried different ingredients, including wasabi and mustard, in an effort to replicate the taste of tear gas
According to Global News, “We roast and then grind whole black peppercorns and make them into gelato, the Italian style. It’s a bit hot, but we emphasize its aftertaste, which is a sensation of irritation in the throat. It just feels like breathing in tear gas,” the 31-year-old owner said.
The ice cream shop also provides a space for people to express their views about the movement, including the use of sticky notes that featured in the “Lennon walls” that appeared throughout the territory at the height of the demonstrations.
