Tsoobble Pop on Towel Day

Every year on May 25th, fans of the late British author Douglas Adams celebrate Towel Day — a quirky, heartfelt tribute to the man behind “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. On this day, people all over the world carry a towel with them wherever they go. In Adams’ sci-fi universe, a towel is described as “about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” It’s part practical joke, part sincere homage, and all a celebration of curiosity, humor, and the importance of always being just a little bit ridiculous — in the best possible way.

Of course, Towel Day is celebrated anually on board of c-base, the hackerspace located in the heart of the German capital Berlin. On Saturday, May 24, 2025 – the day before Towel Day – a wide variety of life forms gathered to have their traditional Space Drinc Contest. Those taking part in the contest were asked to present their favorite drink from the unknown expanses of space and tell everyone what this very special drink was all about. The contestants judged each other in the four categories of appearance, taste, story and the use of a towel.

I came up with a non-alcoholic summer drink that took huge inspirations from Greek Frappé coffee. Here’s what I wrote about the drink and its origins.

Kalýpsóra

Far out, where space is already beginning to fold itself out of boredom, lies the vacation planet Kalýpsóra - a place of such relaxed beauty that even light waves flow more slowly there to make it easier to enjoy the sunset.

Kalýpsóra is inhabited by the Tsoobbles, a highly technological but notoriously lazy species whose culture is based on the aesthetics of ancient Greece as well as the principle of absolute, well-tempered idleness. The Tsoobbles have developed time travel, zero-point energy and portable amphitheaters - only to forget them in a drawer because “the couch was so comfortable”.

Kalýpsóra’s most important holiday is the annual “Great Day of Later” (Megáli Hméra tou Argótera), a planet-wide celebration of procrastination and relaxation on which everything - really everything - is deliberately left undone. The highlight of the day is the ceremonial non-procession, where no one goes anywhere, but everyone knows it would have been nice.

Tourists from all corners of the galaxy make a pilgrimage to Kalýpsóra for their all-inclusive vacation. Here they mainly lie motionless on brightly patterned beach towels, drink gallons of Tsoobble Pop - an iced coffee frappé with tonic and a touch of metaphysical nonchalance - and stare at the sea, which occasionally shimmers in ancient hexameters.

Tsoobble Pop

A caffeinated revelation made from instant coffee, tonic and the lime slice of knowledge. Effect: pleasantly cooling, mentally expanding, slightly foamy in the upper consciousness.

On Kalýpsra, the towel plays a very special, indeed central role in the enjoyment of the Tsoobble Pop. Tsoobble Pop is drunk exclusively on the towel - never next to it, never without it. The towel serves not only as a place to sit or lie down, but also as a spiritually and physically decoupled pleasure space that stabilizes the body thermodynamically and “grounds” the taste of the shower.

Many Tsoobbles are convinced that the subtle contrast between cold coffee and sparkling tonic only unfolds its full aroma when the drinker lies with at least 83% of their body surface on a softly bedded terry towel. The tactile feedback of the towel - scientifically described as “terry towel synaesthesia” - enhances the taste impressions of the fizzy drink, according to Tsoobblian perception research. Some say you can even taste undertones of cinnamon or cosmic melancholy if the towel has been in the sun beforehand.

Traditionally, a small sip of Tsoobble Pop is intentionally spilled on the towel - a ritual act meant to symbolize sharing the moment, even with the fabric that is wearing you. According to Tsoobblian custom, the resulting damp spot, the “frappé aura”, is said to attract good spirits and keep ants away. (The latter has not been scientifically confirmed, as no ants live on Kalýpsóra).

The Recipe

Here’s the recipe, as JSON-LD.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
	"@context": "http://schema.org/",
	"@type": "Recipe",
	"name": "Tsoobble Pop",
	"recipeCategory": "drink",
	"prepTime": "PT5M",
	"datePublished": "2025-05-25",
	"description": "Not just an iced coffee frappé with tonic and a touch of metaphysical nonchalance, but also a caffeinated revelation made from instant coffee, tonic and the lime slice of knowledge. Effect: pleasantly cooling, mentally expanding, slightly foamy in the upper consciousness. ",
	"keywords": "Frappé, Towel Day",
	"recipeIngredient": [
		"instant coffee",
		"water",
		"ice cubes",
		"tonic water"
	],
	"recipeInstructions": [
		{
			"@type": "HowToStep",
			"text": "In a tumbler or a similar glass, put 2 or 3 tea spoons of instant coffee."
		},
		{
			"@type": "HowToStep",
			"text": "Add a shot glass of water to the glass. "
		},
		{
			"@type": "HowToStep",
			"text": "Use an electric milk frother or a sonic screwdriver to blend the the instant coffee and water together until a thick foam is made."
		},
		{
			"@type": "HowToStep",
			"text": "Fill the glass with tonic water."
		},
		{
			"@type": "HowToStep",
			"text": "Add 2 or 3 ice cubes."
		},
		{
			"@type": "HowToStep",
			"text": "Garnish with a slice of lime."
		}
	]
}
</script>