As early as January, we discovered that Nokia was attempting to create a mobile phone powered by soda, and we had a bunch of images to prove it. We haven’t heard anything since, so we can only assume signal problems. TexturePro, on the other hand, focused on lighting up bars and clubs across the country by creating a luminous drink called Illuzoon.
Zenith International chairman Richard Hall seems to have a knack for uprooting stories that just want to make you rub your eyes and pinch yourself. His article about New Zealand rabbits being ‘milked’ by the Dutch was something to behold, and the amazing flavour combinations he discovered, such as feta cheese with watermelon, carbonated cucumber and yogurt with alcohol, left a lot to be desired. I have to admit, all of the above seem more palatable than this odd flavour combination in Japan, but I’ll reserve judgement until I’ve tried it.
And it’s hard to argue with the innovation of it all, and the imagination of those creative confectioners, bakers, brewers and otherwise culinary wizards out there. This year, the pressure has been on to create more new products than ever before, which is why we’re seeing the likes of Bacon Soda, Smoking Guns, snow-flavoured Pepsi and Christmas pudding-flavoured bottled water.
Some of the strangest stories of 2010 sounded quite healthy, such as muscle-building ice cream and chocolate pills that extend life expectancy. I’m waiting for fish & chips that lower my cholesterol, and perhaps sausages that stop hair growing on my toes, but in the meantime, my Christmas cupboards will be stocked with cupcakes in a jar and coffee that I can inhale, should the desire ever strike me.
Happy Christmas to you all. Keep those stories coming in 2011!
Shaun Weston is editor of FoodBev.com. You can contact him here, or read his blog here.
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