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An ice cream to cure hangovers only sounds like the second best thing ever behind an ice cream that can get you drunk, and far as I know, that tragically has not been developed to a sophisticated enough product for sale in national markets (if it has, please let me know).
But hey, if settling for second best means that you can both indulge in some ice cream while simultaneously nursing that hangover from the night before, where can we sign up?
Unfortunately, that’s the catch. The only place you can sign up, as of now, is…South Korea. The nation is apparently boasting the world’s first hangover cure ice cream pop, and damn that’s a great idea.
Reuters reported on what might be the best culinary endeavor since white bread:
South Koreans, Asia’s biggest per capita alcohol consumers, can now soothe themselves after a big night out with hangover-fighting ice cream.
A convenience store chain has launched the Gyeondyo-bar, which translates as “hang in there” and according to the company is the first ice cream bar marketed specifically to combat the after-effects of alcohol consumption. It hit the shelves on [last] Friday. …
The ice cream bar’s name “expresses the hardships of employees who have to suffer a working day after heavy drinking, as well as to provide comfort to those who have to come to work early after frequent nights of drinking”, convenience store chain Withme FS, a unit of E-Mart Co Ltd., part of the Shinsegae Group conglomerate, said in a press release.
The grapefruit-flavored dessert contains 0.7 percent oriental raisin tree fruit juice, a traditional hangover remedy cited in a Korean medicine book from the 17th century that is included in popular hangover potions.
A 2012 article in the Journal of Neuroscience found oriental raisin tree extract reduced symptoms of intoxication in rats.
Love that South Koreans just openly acknowledge their drinking is a big enough problem that it can, and does, affect their workdays on the reg. To the point where they are making ice cream bars to aid the cause. Genius.
For what it’s worth, statistics say they drink the U.S. under the table handily, by more than 3 additional liters of booze per capita each year, so there’s your impetus why they beat us to the punch with this thing.
Someone needs start exporting these things to the States ASAP.
[h/t Mashable]