Designer ice: why frozen water is out – and frozen spaghetti hoops are in

Name: Designer ice.

Age: Well, the Huronian glaciation was the earliest known ice age on Earth, and that was between 2.4 and 2.1bn years ago. Ice has been around for at least as long as that, and probably much longer. The first artificially made ice came a little later, in the mid-19th century.

So we’re talking about just frozen water, not diamonds, or drugs, or anything like that? Well, yes, the sort of ice you put in your drink to make it colder. But you might need to rethink “just frozen water”.

OK, I’m no scientist but I think I know what ice is. I make it myself. Interesting. How?

I’ve got this amazing little tray that is divided up into squares. I fill it with water from the tap and pop it into the freezer … Yawn.

You’re saying my ice cubes are boring? Not just boring – over, passe, so very last century.

Is this about those big fancy fridges they have in the US that dispense ice, crushed as well as cubed? Not just the US. Also no, you’re still way behind, ice has moved on from there too.

Where to? TikTok.

Obviously. Check out #icetok; you won’t be the first.

Go on, how many views? More than 950m.

What will I find there? Ice influencers showing off the contents of, and restocking, their ice drawers; ice in every imaginable shape and size – rectangles, cylinders, pebbles, hearts, balls, dogs, starfish, hexagons, powder.

So it’s not just about lowering the temperature of your Aperol spritz, then? Correct. “Ice isn’t just frozen water for your drink, it’s a blank canvas for your artistry,” said the New York Times in an article about the phenomenon of designer ice. Oh, and not just frozen water either.

What else? Well, obviously you can pour anything into a mould. There’s nothing especially new about freezing fruit juices, coffee even, but how about chocolate pudding ice?

No thank you! Or would you care for a spaghetti rings and meatball ice globe in that?

No, I would not! Plus you can put things in your ice – pieces of fruit, olives, herbs, wild flowers, logos …

Logos? You’ll find ice cubes stamped with the company logo at brand-sponsored events and parties. Ice makers will design and freeze them for you – setting you back about $14 a cube (or sphere etc).

Do say: “On the rocks, sure, but what kind? I got big rocks, little rocks, round rocks, red rocks, Plymouth rocks, Blarney stones, pyramids, ice henge …”

Don’t say: “But what’s the point? It’s only going to melt.”