A shop in Kanazawa, Japan is currently making headlines for its gilded ice cream cones. The city already has a reputation for producing gold leaf and has been known to use it in everything from art to coffee grounds. Now consumers can enjoy the luxurious ingredient in the form of a delicious warm-weather treat.
The gilded ice cones come from a shop called Hakuichi and they consist of soft-serve ice cream covered in a thin sheet of gold leaf. Although the golden dessert looks expensive, a single cone only costs about $8. Of course, it is worth nothing that the gold leaf is essentially tasteless, making the topping more of a decorative addition than a way to elevate the taste of the ice cream.
The popularity of the new dessert demonstrates the ongoing obsession with Instagrammable food and photo-worthy dishes.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Luxury Food
- Businesses could leverage luxury ingredients to add value and increase branding opportunities for Instagrammable foods.
- Edible Decor
- Incorporating decorative, edible toppings creates a unique and visually appealing culinary experience, especially for desserts.
- Gold Leaf
- Gold leaf could be used in various food products to add a luxurious finish that can also attract consumers who value the visual presentation of their food.
Where This Applies
- Food and Beverage
- The food and beverage industry can explore incorporating luxury ingredients and edible decorations to create visually appealing dishes for social media marketing.
- Art and Craft
- The art and craft industry could develop edible gold leaf products to expand their offerings and provide a new market for food-grade gold leaf.
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Hotels and restaurants can leverage trend-driven desserts to attract social media-savvy guests and foster a unique brand image through their Instagrammable menu offerings.
