Thanks to American chemist and botanist George Washington Carver, we've found plenty of uses for the peanut, from dynamite to insecticides to axle grease, peanuts have become a necessity in society. However, many southern territories have taken a liking to simply boiling the crop and eating them as is and Georgia has claimed the crown for the now highly-popularized snack. The history of the boiled peanut dates back to the Civil War when Confederate soldiers lacked the necessary food supplies to feed a mass amount of people. So, what's the next best thing to hold over an entire platoon? None other than boiled peanuts of course.
Boiled peanuts take on an entirely different eating experience than the usually roasted peanuts many have become accustomed to. The outer shell becomes soft to the touch and the nut itself takes on the texture of a legume. While traditionally boiled in seasoned water with spices and enjoyed with a soft drink or beer, some hardcore boiled peanut aficionados have gone as far as to boil their peanuts in beer or add peanuts in their Cokes.
Over the years, weve seen so many food trends come and go, such as ramen burgers, matcha, and spiked ice-cream. Nowadays, were seeing another trend making waves in the food industry. How many times today have you seen an Instagram photo of a scoop of black ice cream, or a cup of black yogurt, or hamburgers with black buns? Indeed, the charcoal trend has taken the world by storm.
So, what gives your latte that deep black shade? Activated charcoal, or coconut ash, is produced by heating coconut shells to insanely high temperatures until theyre burnt to a crisp. The ashes are then increased in size by steaming at high temperatures. Through this process, the ashes become a strong detoxifier, mostly because they become extra absorbent. This product may be purchased in pill form, and promises to alleviate hangovers, minimize the effects of food poisoning, and fight the visible signs of aging.
Activated charcoal is said to boost ones energy as a result of decreasing toxins in the body. However, no evidence proves that detoxifying can lead to increased energy. Also, while it can help cure a hangover, it doesnt necessarily remove alcohol from your blood. It is also said to aid in debloating your stomach because it cleanses your colon but again, this all anecdotal and isnt supported by scientific evidence as of yet. All we can say for sure is that it is a proven detoxifier.