
Where Can I Get it? | How Can I Make It?
What is goth food?
Goth food is any type of food that has been dyed with activated charcoal, squid ink, black sesame, black truffle, or some other type of black food coloring so that it appears black, or grey. Besides staying up-to-date on one of the latest food trends, eating goth food a.k.a. “black foods” may also be beneficial to your health.
- Activated charcoal
- high absorption rate of gases, heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals (CAUTION: over-consumption may lead to reduced potency of medications, or malnutrition…so make sure to eat it in moderation; the Department of Health had banned activated charcoal in NYC in March 2018)
- can aid in digestion, reduces gas & bloating, whitens teeth, reduces high cholesterol and removes toxins
- Squid ink
- rich in antioxidants and iron
- may prevent the growth of blood vessels that cause cancer cells
- Black sesame seeds
- rich in many nutrients (B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, magnesium, calcium, and zinc)
- may prevent premature graying of hair, poor memory and hearing loss while maintaining healthy skin, bones, cholesterol levels, digestion plus a healthy heart
- Black sapote
- high in vitamins (C and A), phosphorus, calcium and iron
- aids in digestion
- Black truffles
- high in protein and cholesterol-free
- can help decrease total cholesterol levels
Although the ingredients that turn food “gothic” may provide health benefits, not all of the foods themselves are healthy to begin with. Don’t falsely believe that a black hot dog, for example, is a health food. Some goth foods that have gone viral on the internet include:
- charcoal latte
- goth ice cream
- black cheese
- black sesame affogato
- black sushi
- black hot dog
- activated charcoal pizza
- black hamburger
- black ramen
- black sesame porridge
- goth bao
This black food trend has arisen in popularity as “unicorn foods” (a.k.a. rainbow foods) have gone mainstream. We discuss unicorn foods in greater detail here.
Where can I get it?
Goth food can be found in most places that serve dishes with squid ink or activated charcoal. Here are some locations you might want to try some black foods.
Los Angeles, CA: Little Damage Ice Cream
(charcoal ice cream)
New York, NY: Anytime
(popcorn chicken with squid ink)

San Diego, CA: Bencotto Italian Kitchen
(squid ink pasta)
How can I make it?
Like unicorn food, pretty much any type of food can me turned into goth food. In order to make your food black, you’ll need to follow this basic universal recipe.
Ingredients (note: use savory ingredient for savory foods & sweet ingredient for sweet foods)
- squid ink (savory) | food grade activated charcoal (sweet)
- squid ink pasta (for any pasta dish)
Directions
- First, take a teaspoon of squid ink or a pinch of charcoal and add it to the food you would like dyed black. To make the food darker, incrementally add more.
- Mix the ingredients until it is fully and evenly incorporated into the food.
- If necessary, finish cooking/baking/heating up/freezing your food. Enjoy!

Kristina Reynolds is the Founder & CEO of Glutto and an alumna of the University of California, San Diego. She writes articles & posts for Glutto Digest with insights from fellow industry experts. Furthermore, she is the author of The Fittest Food Lovers: How EVERY BODY Can be Incredibly Fit and Still Enjoy Food, a collaborative philanthropic book with proceeds going to charities that fight world hunger.
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