Food in Black: Inky dark is the culinary world's new bright spot

For the longest time, even a pinch of black in food was reason to get the knives out at the chef. Not anymore.

People want to have their plates with something dark or the other, be it from charcoal, ash or squid ink.

And so it is that black-coloured foods, which earlier took Instagrammers by storm, thanks to charcoal-infused goth ice-cream, now includes pastas, pizzas, burgers, health drinks and even our very own desi murg malai tikka too.

The fandom is only growing.

Squid ink, the newest must have in high-end gourmet kitchens, is an edible black substance taken from the ink sac of a squid.

Activated charcoal is a fine black powder made from bone char, coconut shells, peat, coal, olive pits or sawdust.The charcoal is "activated" by processing it at very high temperatures. Both, black burger and ice-cream, get their colour from activated charcoal.

Recently, Pizza Hut, one of India's leading pizza chains, introduced the "country's first ever black pan pizza" at its Gurgaon restaurants.

The black pan pizza, claimed Pizza Hut, is more unique since it gets its colour from a "secret natural ingredient" that is wholly different from charcoal.

The idea originated from days when a lot of meats and vegetables were charred for taste, explained Anooj Wadhawan, executive chef, Roseate House.

Imperfecto Shor Cafe uses squid ink to blacken and flavour 'Spanish Black Rice', a favourite on its menu.

And to wash it all down, what better than a goth drink to go with goth food - like activated charcoal detox shots or black water?

Akiva activated charcoal aloe vera health shots and Evocus black alkaline water claim to be big on health grounds and are cashing in on the black obsession.

While Akiva superfoods boast about their product being "healthy and tasty", Evocus banks highly on the "unique formulation" of its black alkaline water.