Glow-in-the-Dark Drinks
Monday March 5, 2007
![]() |
If you want to make glowing drinks, my advice is to get a pocket-sized black light (ultraviolet lamp) and take it shopping with you. Shine the light on products and look for a glow. Note that the glow may be a different color from the product. Also, you will discover many plastic containers are highly fluorescent. I did a little internet searching and came up with this list of beverages and additives that reputedly glow in the dark under black light. Absinthe and Blue Curacao contain alcohol, but the other items can be used for any occasion. Some fluorescent and phosphorescent substances will glow for several seconds after the light source is removed.
- blue raspberry Little Hugs (really awful-tasting kiddie soft drink)
- Mountain Dew and Diet Mountain Dew (one source included several 'toxic waste' recipes)
- Tonic Water (or any drink containing quinine)
- many sports drinks
- Absinthe
- Blue Curacao
- some of the new bright food colors
- certain flavors of gelatin
- vitamin B12 (glows bright yellow)
- chlorophyll (like from spinach juice, glows blood red)
Things that Glow under Black Light | How Lightsticks Work
Photo: Jonathan Kendrick
This blue martini would glow under ultraviolet light.



Comments
Huh. I’ve been speculating about Mountain Dew fluorescence for a while. Looks like a few things I’ve made in the lab.