Unique Desserts at Safe Room, Penang

People in the food business seem to spend all their waking hours trying to outdo each other, coming up with the weirdest, most mind-blowing inventions.

And similarly, we—the foodies, food bloggers, Instagrammers—are constantly competing over who gets to try them first. But how far are we willing to go? Would we risk our lives for it?

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What are liquid-nitrogen desserts?

Not too long ago, someone came up with a dessert they trademarked as “Dragon’s Breath.”

It has since been replicated all over the world under different names—from Heaven’s Breath to nitro puffs to snowballs—but it usually consists of brightly colored rice or corn puffs.

Credit: Rhododendrites / Wikimedia Commons

The secret behind it is liquid nitrogen. It’s an extremely cold substance used to freeze things instantly. When exposed to air, it turns into fog.

To create the smoky effect, liquid nitrogen is poured over the puffs, freezing them immediately and producing a fog as it evaporates.

When you eat something that has been frozen this way, the cold condenses the moisture in your breath, making it look like you’re breathing out smoke—like a dragon—hence the name.

Is liquid nitrogen safe for consumption?

Liquid nitrogen is odorless, colorless, non-toxic, and non-flammable. Sounds harmless enough—but it can be extremely dangerous if not handled properly.

Before you panic, here’s the simple version of what’s going on.

Liquid nitrogen is only safe to consume after it has fully evaporated. In its liquid form, it’s cold enough to cause burns, and if swallowed too early, it can expand rapidly inside the body as it turns back into gas.

That’s where things get risky.

In 2017, a man in India drank a cocktail containing liquid nitrogen, which, due to improper consumption, burned a hole in his stomach.

The following year, in South Korea, a 13-year-old boy who consumed a liquid-nitrogen dessert started developing symptoms such as shortness of breath and a severely distended stomach.

He had to undergo emergency surgery that left him with a 20-cm scar on his abdomen.

Credit: Sarah_Ackerman / Wikimedia Commons

Those cases happened because the nitrogen hadn’t fully evaporated before consumption.

When it turns back into gas, it can expand dramatically and create dangerous pressure inside the body. It can also displace oxygen, which explains the breathing difficulties.

Not exactly what you signed up for when ordering dessert.

How to consume liquid nitrogen safely

The use of liquid nitrogen in food isn’t new. It has long been used in things like ice cream to create a smoother texture.

The problem starts when sellers or consumers aren’t properly informed.

The key rule is simple: make sure all the liquid nitrogen has evaporated before eating.

This usually means:

The food should be properly mixed during preparation
You should wait a few minutes before eating
And yes, in this one very specific situation, blowing on your food is actually encouraged

It might not win you any table manners points, but it does reduce the risk of accidentally ingesting residual liquid nitrogen.

Eating liquid-nitrogen desserts at The Safe Room, Penang

The Safe Room is located on Campbell Street in Georgetown, Penang.

Established in 2013, it’s an award-winning cafe known for pioneering liquid nitrogen desserts and molecular gastronomy in Malaysia.

Some of its accolades include the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for three consecutive years (2016, 2017, and 2018) and the INPenang Best Café Award (2017 and 2018).

The café serves halal food and operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM. It also features what it claims to be the world’s first love-lock tree inside a safe room.

Plus, the name alone should reassure you that you won’t be leaving with a hole in your esophagus.

I ordered the Dragon’s Breath, which came in the form of liquid nitrogen popcorn. At RM9.90 per bowl, it felt like a bargain—the portion was generous, and you’d probably pay more than that at the movies.

It tasted similar to regular sweet popcorn, just cold. I personally prefer mine warm, but this was still enjoyable. At least it wasn’t cold and soggy.

I also tried their dragon fruit liquid nitrogen ice cream topped with cotton candy.

Nitrogen ice cream is said to be denser and creamier because it contains fewer air bubbles and smaller ice crystals.

It’s also often marketed as being “healthier” since it’s made fresh and contains no preservatives.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t really tell the difference. It was creamy, yes—but it was also my first time trying dragon fruit ice cream, so I had no real baseline for comparison.

However, I must say that the presentation was stunning. The pink cotton candy hovered above the ice cream like a soft cloud, slowly dripping tiny droplets of pink “rain” onto the plate.

Just be warned: it can quickly turn into a sticky mess—especially if you’re sitting outside on a windy day… in a white dress.

Have you tried anything with liquid nitrogen before? Share your experience in the comment section below.