Logan Moffitt, a 23-year-old Canadian TikTok creator known as the "cucumber guy" (@logagm), has gained viral fame for his unique and visually appealing cucumber salad creations, featuring easy and creative recipes inspired by various cuisines.
Moffitt often begins his videos with "Sometimes, you just need to eat a whole cucumber" and eats two to three cucumbers daily.
The popularity of Moffitt's cucumber salad recipes has led to a surge in demand for cucumbers, causing shortages in some regions like Iceland, where local farmers and grocery chains have struggled to keep up with the booming business.
The viral cucumber trend on TikTok has highlighted social media's influence on consumer behavior and market dynamics, with many people posting videos of themselves trying the recipes, leading to increased demand and empty shelves in supermarkets.
While the cucumber salad recipe originated in China, it complements various cuisines and has become a favorite due to its fresh, simple, and punchy appeal, transforming a humble cucumber into a tasty snack or side dish option.
Essential kitchen tools like cutting boards, mandolines, and cut-proof gloves, as well as versatile and eco-friendly storage containers, are recommended for recreating Logan's viral cucumber salads at home safely. Some influencers attempting to slice cucumbers with a mandolin have gotten injured, raising safety concerns.
TikTok users have noticed a recent trend of cucumber-related content, with comedian Meg Ruocco joking about the heightened presence of cucumber videos on the platform.
Before his cucumber videos, Moffitt documented his love for cooking and eating Korean food, crediting South Korean-born chef Maangchi as his cooking teacher and a major inspiration. He acknowledges Maangchi and gives credit to Asian recipes he features.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Republic World, Hindustan Times, The Guardian, New York Post, The Sun, Times of India, Euro Weekly News, Tapinto, Dealmakerz, Khaleej Times, Food and Wine, Toronto.com, San Bernardino Sun, Huffington Post, AOL, Bombay Times, Tarun Bharat, Southern Living.