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[1]

What you're about to see will either horrify you or delight you (or both). This blob-like dessert (dessert?) is called the Raindrop Cake [2], and it's become one of the most talked-about food trends of the year since it debuted at Smorgasburg [3] in Brooklyn, NY. It's translucent, calorie-free, and basically tasteless. While this might be the first you've ever heard of it, it's actually not new — it's a variation of a traditional Japanese dish that people have been eating for years. But this exact Raindrop Cake [4] is from NYC-based chef Darren Wong, who explains, "It's a light, delicate, and refreshing raindrop made for your mouth."

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So, what's it made of? Mineral water and agar, a gelatinous substance that comes from seaweed, which is what gives the cake its Jello-like appearance. Since the cake itself has almost no taste, it's served alongside roasted soybean flour (kinako) and a sugary syrup called kuromitsu.

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[6]

Wong told Slate that eating the Raindrop Cake [7] "tastes like eating a giant raindrop." The cake "is very mild and very much about the delicate texture the melts in your mouth. Together with the toppings it has a strong, sweet kick with a tinge of molasses and roasted nutty flavor." This is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting creations to be found at Smorgasburg (even more than the Ramen Burger [8]), and it's something every adventurous eater should try. Would you?

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