These TikTok Videos Of Peeling Fruit Are Going So Viral & We Don't Know Why
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
In early December, Zoya Biglary posted a TikTok in which she effortlessly peeled an apple in one go, leaving behind a single piece of skin. The video got a lot of engagement, so she went on to peel other fruits. Papaya? Check. Dragonfruit? You got it. Soon enough, she landed a deal with Sunkist. Who knew peeling fruit could be so mesmerizing—and profitable?
When I first watched her videos, I thought, How does she peel fruit so elegantly? Is this some sort of new ASMR? Indeed, many commenters note how therapeutic the videos are. But after watching a few of her TikToks, I started to understand why so many people were fans. They're about more than just fruit.
In one TikTok, Biglary tells the story of coming out to her parents, and in another why she calls herself Persian versus Iranian. She's also shared that she once thought, as a child, that babies came from watermelon seeds.
"It's about relatability," Biglary told me. "I think that there are still so many marginalized groups of people who don't see themselves portrayed in whatever that is."
A queer Persian woman, Biglary refers to herself as a "walking checklist."
"I have so many unique experiences that aren't really that unique, because there's actually, as I've discovered, 15, 20 million people who feel the same way," she said.
Biglary has gotten over a thousand Instagram messages from people all over the world, particularly from folks in India and Iran, where TikTok is banned, asking her to post her videos on other social platforms.
"There are probably 1,000-plus messages from Middle Eastern people all around the world, especially queer ones, who send me these really long, heartfelt messages about relating to me in one way or another," she said. "It wound up really creating a bigger splash than I intended at the time."
But where did she learn to peel fruit so elegantly?
"For me personally, peeling fruit was the way my parents and grandparents showed affection," said Biglary. "It's very prominent in, not just Persian culture, but a lot of cultures."
Her first video was prompted by her girlfriend, former Tasty producer Alix Traeger, who said they didn't have an apple peeler. As she peels the apple, Biglary said, "I'm Persian. I am an apple peeler."
"Persian culture is very poetic in may ways. I think that translates from everything to language to cooking and peeling fruit," Biglary said.
"The fact that I peel fruit while I tell [viewers] stories, I think makes people feel a certain sort of safety and familiarity."
Apart from the family tradition, the tools are also important. Biglary's favorite knives are made by Hexclad.
Since starting her channel, she's become so much more than TikTok's favorite fruit peeler. Fueled by a love of fish and an awareness of the many issues in the seafood industry, she teamed up with her friend Paul Barbosa (private chef for Chrissy Teigen and John legend, among others) to launch Fysh Foods. Like a seafood version of Beyond Meat, Fysh Foods' products taste and look like fish, but they're vegan and made from vegetables, tapioca, and sea algae. Sushi rolls made with Fysh products are currently sold at Erewhon in LA, and she hopes to expand.
"The response has been incredible," said Biglary. Many people with allergies or dietary restrictions have reached out to her, happy that they can now eat a fish alternative.
"The theme in my life is just inclusivity," she said. "I want people to feel like they're important and they belong and there's something there for them too, because I know what it feels like to not feel that way."
You Might Also Like
