Glow-in-the-Dark Gin and Tonic Jelly Recipe
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Arty British food-design/architecture team Bompas & Parr worked with an explosives expert to come up with an edible ingredient to add to Jell-O that would cause it to glow in the dark. Turns out when you make the jiggly dessert using tonic water, it will appear to glow if you shine a black light on it because the quinine in the tonic water is UV reactive. Here’s B&P’s recipe for their eerie, boozy jelly, just in time for Halloween.
INGREDIENTS
- 150 milliliters gin, such as Hendrick’s
- 300 milliliters Indian tonic water
- 50 milliliters Rich Simple Syrup
- Splash of rose water
- 5 gelatin leaves
- UV black light
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine gin, tonic water, rich simple syrup, and rose water in a large heatproof measuring cup; set aside.
- Cut gelatin leaves into fine pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Add enough gin and tonic mixture to cover and set aside until gelatin softens.
- Place softened gelatin mixture over a pan of simmering water and heat until gelatin leaves are fully melted.
- Remove gelatin mixture from heat and stir in the remainder of the gin and tonic mixture. Strain back into the measuring cup. Pour into a jelly mold or bowl and refrigerate until set.
- Unmold jelly by briefly immersing the mold or bowl in a bowl of hot water, then invert over a serving plate. For maximum effect, turn off all the lights and switch on a black light, then serve the glowing jelly to thrilled diners.
This recipe, while from a trusted source, may not have been tested by the CHOW food
team.
Forgot to ask... Where did you find this very cool mold for the Gin Jello?
I think this would be a great beginning to serve and get the party ready before the birthday cake is brought in candle lights a glow.
Back in the day, black lights were present in lots of bars, probably as counterfeit bill detection. Maybe still? Anyhow, my buddy drank Gin & Tonics, which he called Blue Devils due to the glow. As to quinine Jello, I wouldn't touch it unless paid.
Made a huge amount of this for a massive Halloween party this year -- it is fantastic! Really works well. We dyed some cups of it to see if the luminescent effect would work with different colours ... not so much. The dyed portions still had a bit of a glow, but the undyed ones were much better. The jelly tasted really nice as well. It was a great success!
Bistro Y - While Onic water over here is substitutible for Indian Tonic, the British stuff has a higher quinine content and a stronger taste.
Working in conjunction with an explosive expert makes everything instantly cooler. Next time you need something done, be sure to randomly mention that you are working with an explosive expert. "Yes, Hello, I am here for an oil change. I would like 10w-40 and an oil filter, but I am working with an explosive expert, and he said I DO NOT need a replacement air filter like you sold me last time."
sounds like a good Halloween Drink!
Indian Tonic is the British term for what is just Tonic water in the US.
~5 gelatin leaves is about the same as a 10g packet of gelatin. In Europe (and Canada maybe?), gelatin is more commonly sold in leaves than powdered. Leaves are also available in the US from specialty food stores and those that supply restaurants.
can anyone convert this for me? it's actually the gelatin leaves that are throwing me (is that a normal way to get gelatin?). obviously i don't use gelatin much but this looks like SO much fun for a party.
Why Indian tonic water? Does it really matter?
Bompas & Parr had to learn how to make blacklight jello from an 'explosives expert'? A Google search woulda sufficed. Nice presentation though.
Well technically "glow-in-the-dark" means some form of chemoluminescence while the shine-a-black-light-on-it phenomenon is fluorescence. These are two very different things. "Fluorescent Jello" sounds just as tasty. Fluorescein is an interesting addition to jello, but is not without some risks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescein
You can also just make regular jello, substituting tonic water for plain water. Blue or green varieties work the best.
I don't particularly care for G&Ts but LOVE the idea of a glow-in-the-dark jelly. How fun! Then again, I'm silly for spark-in-the-dark LifeSavers, so this isn't surprising. ;)
I don't think I'd be so thrilled...