Slice of bread and chocolate balls have never been more popular.
At least that’s how it felt over the past year, when TikTok has spurred a barrage of food trends that have spilled over from our phones to our kitchens and even to retail shelves.
In 2020, people are melting with joy at the video of the hot cocoa bomb, which turns into a mug filled with hot chocolate when hot milk is poured over it. Banana bread – old but delicious – became a hit once again. And people hover over their stoves to make adorable miniature pancakes in an attempt to remake pancake cereal.
Now, in the last few weeks, we’ve seen even more TikTok food trends emerge, including the home-made feta pasta.
However, for Nolan Lewin, executive director and operational director of the Rutgers Center for Food Innovation, this is old news. Sort of.
“People always find food products – that’s a sustainable thing – from time to time, but with social media becoming so popular and with so many different channels to go through, some of them have become natural spreaders for certain types of activities,” he said.
However, one thing that is new is the people driving this trend. According to TikTok60% of users are between the ages of 10 and 29, categorizing them as millennial generation or Generation Z. Lewin believes this generational nature is helping to drive this food trend.
READ: Looking for hot cocoa bombs? Here’s where to find them in New Jersey in person or online
“People who are more likely to see this video are more eager to try new things, different ethnic foods and flavorings and spices,” he said. “I think our American view of the world has really evolved. The benefit is people don’t have to travel to try this coffee with coconut milk or go or some of these Indian countries to try their chutney. They can find the recipe online. ”
Lewin doesn’t fully praise pandemic boredom for helping this trend spread – she remembers many times before the pandemic when her 19-year-old daughter would show her innovative foods found online – but she says it’s definitely a factor, even for the Rutgers Center for Food Innovation.
Lewin said he had gotten a lot of calls from people arriving with new foods – the center’s job was basically helping people launch their food businesses – many of whom said they had spent the last few months at home and are now trying to earn extra money. or turn on family recipes.
But why food, and not fashion, art or any other cultural phenomenon? Because food is universal, says Lewin, and everyone feels comfortable cooking something, even if it’s just eggs or burgers. It’s a good basis for following simple recipes, especially if there’s a fun video in it.
Only time will tell, however, whether TikTok’s food trends continue to pick up after the pandemic “ends” – whenever it happens. Lewin thinks they might get off a bit as more people return to their offices, but interest will continue to cook in some form.
“I think you’ll probably continue to see this fun variety of products come out,” he said. “People always want to be creative and it will never stop. It might fall out a bit when people go to the office and they can’t play with the pan and pancake mix for an hour, but they still have time for the fun stuff. “
Last year, we saw a lot of TikTok food trends, including hot chocolate bombs, pancake cereals, coffee shakes, and cloud bread. Here are a few that are currently popular.
Birria tacos
For generations, birria – a Mexican soup made with slow-cooked lamb for hours – has been a traditional dish often served as a taco filling in crunchy tortillas fried in fat. It’s served with a side of a delicious red broth, called consomé, for dipping and is sometimes topped with soft Oaxaca cheese too.
READ: Where to find trendy birrian tacos on the Shore and Central Jersey
But now, Mexican street food has made its way to the East Coast after exploding on TikTok, with some variation – many restaurants use beef instead of mutton. In New Jersey, tons of Mexican restaurants have added new trends to their menus – or seen a huge increase in sales of the regional specialties they always offer – as crowds of foodies take to the streets to try birria tacos for themselves.
Make a paste
Pasta Feta may be one of TikTok’s newest trends, but it’s actually been around longer – a Finnish blogger was credited with creating the dish and then, in early 2019, sharing it on his website. When the blogger behind Grilled Cheese Social shared it on its TikTok in late January, the video exploded – it now has over 3 million views, and #bakedfetapasta has over 66 million collective views across the app.
It’s no surprise why – not many people can resist comforting pasta, cheese, and tomato dishes, especially if they’re easy to make. Combine a block of feta, tomato, and olive oil in a skillet, roast, then mix with the pasta and basil (although there are minor differences depending on which recipe you follow).
Fufu
In West Africa, fufu – a soft, chewy, stretchy dough used as a kind of spoon with rich, spicy soups – is a staple food. Today, it is also a TikTok staple, as millions of users try #fufuchallenge and add starch made from cassava, white sweet potato, or plantain.
READ: The place to taste the food of the African diaspora in New Jersey
After tearing off a portion of the fufu, like someone would tear a loaf of bread from the bread, they made a dent with their fingers to “shape” it, dipped it in the soup and then ate the chunks of fufu, now filled with soup. Although #fufu and #fufuchallenge have collectively garnered nearly 400 million views on TikTok, it is not without controversy as some users disrespectfully spit out traditional food.
Wrap the tortilla
Every burrito fan knows that the best way to take your bundle of meat, cheese, and excitement to the next level is to give the tortilla a little crunch. A TikTok user found a way to do just that, while also making the perfect pouch for storing all your burritos.
Plus, like many other TikTok trends, it’s easy. Just put the flour tortilla in the toaster and once it has risen you can open it and fill it with the desired ingredients to make an easy to eat wrap that will not lose its filling from the bottom.
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA Today Network New Jersey since 2014, having become a blogger turned reporter after creating her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to his story about food, drink and pleasure, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Contact: [email protected] or @Tokopedia.
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