In the past few years, a new trend has emerged: unicorn food. People are paying exorbitant amounts of money for burgers, milkshakes and even condoms infused with glittery powders that make them look like they’ve been dusted with magical fairy dust.

But what is in unicorn meat? And why is it so expensive?

“The reason these products cost so much is because they’re made with real unicorn tears,” explained Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizarre Foods America. “We all know that unicorns are magical creatures that only exist in our imaginations, but somehow these companies have figured out a way to extract their tears and use it as an ingredient.”

Unicorn tears are produced when unicorns are sad or stressed, resulting in a viscous white liquid that’s often used as an aphrodisiac or antidepressant by ancient Chinese herbalists. In recent years, however, Western doctors have discovered that unicorn tears can also be used as a remedy for cancer and Alzheimer’s disease — two conditions that currently have no cure.

Last modified: October 3, 2022