The 5 weirdest kosher foods you’ll be eating in 2018

JOSEFIN DOLSTEN, NEW JERSEY

That may seem like an unusual warning outside a convention centre, but to the crowd attending the food expo there on Tuesday, it made sense: Kosherfest is the world’s largest kosher food trade show, where the vast majority of those attending follow the Jewish prohibition against mixing meat and dairy.

More than 4 000 food industry professionals gathered for the annual two-day event, which featured more than 325 vendors showcasing an array of products, from candy to wine.

Naturally, there were lots of samples.

Reporting can be a tough job, but somebody had to taste everything. Amid the offerings of many obvious treats (lox varieties and bagel flavors, for example), there were some surprises. These are the five most unexpected foods and beverages JTA sampled at this year’s Kosherfest.

Patterned matzah

Matzohgram, which was crowned by Kosherfest the best Kosher for Passover product, is matzah printed with Jewish-themed patterns, such as Stars of David and Passover greetings. The manufacturer, Independent Ink, uses colourful, edible ink that is kosher for Passover.

Customers placing large orders can also customise matzahs with any image they desire.

“It gives you the ability to be creative for your seder plate,” said NK Ranganathan, Independent Ink’s chief operating officer. “You can have a variety of designs, and it becomes very interesting for the kids.”

Customers can buy Matzohgram online: It’s $10 for a box of mini-matzahs and $16 for the regular size.

Oxygen-infused water

If Oxigen’s claims about its water – that it improves both post-workout and or post-hangover recovery time and mental clarity – are true, then Gatorade may have some serious competition.

A bottle of the oxygen-infused beverage contains 1 000 parts per million of stabilised oxygen, compared to 5 to 40 parts per million in regular water, according to its manufacturer. Those in need of even more Os can take an Oxigen shot, which contains 5 000 parts per million.

“When you drink the water, the oxygen gets into your bloodstream and goes to work immediately to aid in focus, recovery, endurance and stamina,” Max Lewis, director of sales for Formula Four Beverages, told JTA.

The oxygen is not in gas form, meaning it won’t escape the bottle when it’s opened, Lewis added.

Oxigen bottles retail at stores nationwide for $1,69 to $1,99, while the shots sell for $2,79 to $2,99.

Salted caramel frozen pizza

It’s a pizza, it’s a frozen dessert – it’s a Frizza!

The Salted Caramel Frizza from Elegant Desserts won the trade show’s award for best dessert. The dairy-free treat consists of a cookie bottom, salted caramel ice cream and caramel sauce.

“Everybody, when they come over, they go crazy about it because it’s entertaining, it’s fun, it’s different,” said Benjamin Weisz, president of Elegant Desserts based in Brooklyn.

At Kosherfest, the frizzas were cut into bite-sized squares, but they are meant to be served by the slice, like a pizza. Each pie contains eight to 16 servings, depending on how it’s sliced.

Elegant Desserts, which sells frizzas online for $36,50 each, also sells the pies in flavours such as cookies and cream and strawberry.

Ready-made shakshuka

Craving shakshuka but short on time?

This sauce is perfect for any busy person who loves this Israeli breakfast food, which consists of eggs cooked with spices in tomato sauce. To make this version of the hearty dish, one only needs to open a jar, crack a few eggs and cook the delicious mess on the stovetop or in the oven.

“It makes it very quick,” said Tami Bezborodko, vice president of marketing for Iron Chef. “In seven minutes you can have a nice, hot breakfast.”

The sauce contains tomatoes and spices and comes in mild and medium spicy varieties. A 24-ounce jar retails in stores nationwide for around $4,50.

Rabbi-approved BBQ sauce

Want a barbecue with a rabbinic seal of approval? Look no further. Rabbi Mendel Segal, who founded the Kansas City Kosher BBQ Festival, now offers three varieties of his RaBBi-Q sauce. Since launching in 2015, Segal has expanded his line of sauces to include flavours that draw on both his Jewish and Southern roots – the pomegranate honey barbecue sauce, which Segal came up with when making brisket for Rosh Hashanah, is a favourite.

“It sells really well in the non-Jewish market, too, because nobody has a barbecue sauce that flavour yet,” he told JTA. “But Jews catch onto it right away.”

An 18-ounce jar of sauce retails at select kosher markets nationwide for $4,99. (JTA)