When you think back to the 1960s, what symbolism comes to mind? If you aren't old enough to remember the 60s, what comes to mind when you try to picture the era? For a lot of people it might be the 'Ban the Bomb' symbol that was spray painted on many a wall, or worn around the neck as a medallion. For others it was the smart suits worn by acts like the Beatles. But for a whole subculture of society at the time, it's tie dye clothing.
Nobody seems to know who started the craze, or why, but it was everywhere you looked at Woodstock, and for a couple of years either side of it. The fashion is strongly associated with hippies, and their message of peace and free love. Unlike modern festivals, there were no merchandise stores at the event, so people like the ones on the stall pictured were free to make money by selling their own designs to a captive audience.
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.