Tiktok took the internet by storm and it continues to rage. What was initially a platform for dance videos has branched off into “Elite TikTok” and “Beans TikTok” (to name a few). If you know, you know. For those unfamiliar with the app, allow me to explain. 

The app has a page called “For You”, which is akin to the Instagram Explore Page in that it tailors the content to the individual user. If you interact with- like, save, favorite, or comment on- a post, TikTok will show you similar content in the future. Thus, TikTok users have found themselves on different sides of the app. I, for example, often find myself on “Food TikTok”- not surprising, given my love for anything and everything edible. 

In the same way that TikTok has popularized songs, dances, and even the use of certain emojis, it has given way to the creation and popularization of oddly specific snacks, many of which are the products of quarantine boredom. These snacks are certainly far from boring. 

One of the earliest food trends to sweep the app was Dalgona coffee, a personal favorite of mine. The beverage was first popularized in Korea, hence the name. It consists of cold milk topped with a whipped coffee foam. A reverse latte if you will. It may take a bit of time to make, but it’s absolutely worth the wait. The end result is reminiscent of coffee ice cream- much sweeter and creamier than your average cup of joe. 

The next brainchild of bored TikTokers was cereal everything. I’m talking pancake cereal, cookie cereal, donut cereal, croissant cereal; you get the point. Frankly, I’m not a fan. There’s just something unappealing about a bowl of tiny, soggy, pancakes or milk-logged mini croissants. As for cookie and donut cereals, both are already perfect in their naturally occurring state. Why change anything?

Cloud bread was another food trend that was interesting in concept, but alas, a major disappointment. Made with nothing but some whipped egg whites, a pinch of sugar, and a dash of cornstarch, this fluffy creation has no business calling itself bread. The sugar and cornstarch (unsurprisingly) do little to mask the flavor of the egg whites, and the end result is unpleasant to say the least. 

To end on a more positive note, I give you: Takis and cream cheese jalapeños! It is unclear whether this trend was intended to be a delicious snack or a spice tolerance challenge, but either way, I’m not complaining. These three simple ingredients complement each other perfectly to create a beautiful, broke college student equivalent of the beloved jalapeño popper. It’s crunchy, it’s spicy, it’s tangy, and my description does not do it justice. There have, however, been some alleged hospitalizations after overenthusiastic fans of the snack ate just a few too many. Fortunately, this is not a major cause for concern as these unfortunate turns of events were not likely a direct result of stuffed jalapeño consumption. I, for one, will continue to enjoy them in moderation while I await the arrival of TikTok’s next great food trend.