The ASMR-Style Bruschetta Video TikTok Couldn't Get Enough Of

ASMR, or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is the feeling some people get when watching something stimulating. People have described this sensation as tingly and deeply relaxing, helping some people fall asleep. Although there is no scientific data to support this phenomenon, millions of people have watched videos on social media sites like YouTube and TikTok since the term was coined in 2010. Instagram currently has almost 13 million posts with the hashtag #ASMR.

ASMR can trigger a response by listening to whispering and crisp sounds and visually by slow movements and personal attention. Maria, a popular ASMR YouTuber called "Gentle Whispering ASMR," has received 18 million views of her whispering. The extreme closeups of Maria pick up every sound, including her lips parting and smacking while she whispers. Is there a name for someone who is irritated by these videos yet? For those with ASMR, it has been used to ease pain symptoms and improve mood. Maria has received feedback from traumatized and stressed people like firefighters, soldiers, and single mothers who said the videos helped change their mindsets in just minutes. Not everyone has ASMR, however.

Videos are often of dull and mundane everyday tasks like blowdrying your hair, but can also be role-playing. Although this is not explained as being sexual, it has been compared to S&M. Artists are always coming up with new ideas, and ASMR is now in the kitchen, cooking with us.

In a TED talk, physiologist Craig Richard explains the popularity of ASMR and how we may all experience some form without knowing it. That feeling we get from having our hairdresser wash, cut, and style our hair can be incredibly relaxing for some. For those old enough to remember him, watching Bob Ross paint on television may have brought us similar sensations. So how does that translate to the kitchen?

TikTok user Daenliaskitchen posts ASMR videos of her preparing recipes, and recently, she posted a bruschetta video upon request. The video, set to Billie Holiday's "Blue Moon," attracted almost 200,000 likes. Daenliaskitchen begins by pan-frying a piece of bread, followed by her coring, slicing, and making the tomato topping. She breaks apart a head of garlic before scraping a clove on the surface of that freshly toasted bread. The bruschetta is assembled in 17 seconds and gets a final "glug glug" of olive oil. Viewers either praised the video, making requests for avocado toast and garlic bread, or criticized Daenlia for using too much olive oil — it appears it's hard to make everyone happy, even in the ASMR community. As one fan summed it up, "Y'all hating on the oil! THAT'S A REAL ITALIAN BRUSCHETTA."

If the video doesn't give you tingles or a "braingasm," it will undoubtedly make you hungry. Viewers can search for ASMR cooking videos by cuisine or the names of dishes. Miniature cooking is another trend in ASMR. It's fascinating to see perfect dishes in tiny form and the tiny appliances that really work.