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JAPANESE COMPANY LAUNCHES TASTE-ENHANCING SPOON
Japanese tech company Kirin Holdings recently introduced the commercial version of its taste-enhancing spoon, dubbed Elecispoon, which increases the tongue’s perception of salt, thus making food taste better without the need to add extra salt.
The company’s researchers teamed up with scientists at Meiji University to develop a line of smart kitchenware that used electricity to make food taste saltier and tastier than it actually was.
They tested a smart spoon and bowl which worked in tandem to make foods about 1.5 times saltier than they really were, but it seems that only the spoon has made it to the market.
Elecispoon is a smart spoon that is designed to improve people’s health by helping them cut back on salt in their food.
Excessive salt use is a well-documented problem in Japan, but so is people’s dissatisfaction with low-salt foods. Preventing the serious health issues caused by salt intake is not so easy as simply cutting it from people’s diets.
This is where Elecispoon comes in. This ingenious spoon uses electric waveform technology to trick the user’s taste buds.
So, how exactly does the Elecispoon work? Well, according to a Kirin press release, the tip of the spoon contains a mechanism that can transfer an electric charge to the food it touches and at the same time generate an electric field around the tongue. This field causes the sodium ions in the food to come together, which results in a stronger sense of saltiness and flavor.
Because we all perceive saltiness differently, the Elecispoon has four intensity settings, but, while Kirin suggests users start with the first level, the Japanese company claims that not even the highest setting is strong enough to cause a shock or even a tingling sensation.
Because the spoon relies on electricity to work its magic, it requires a power source – a 3V rechargeable lithium battery built into its handle.
The Elecispoon could prove a godsend for foodies who can no longer use as much salt as they would like, but Kirin Holdings points out that not everyone should use it. People with facial nerve disorders, metal allergies, or an inability to detect pain or temperature should not use the Elecispoon. The smart spoon is also not recommended for people with electrically-powered medical implants, pregnant women, and people undergoing dental treatments.
A small batch of 200 Elecispoon smart spoons is available for purchase from the Kirin online store now, and the Japanese company announced that it will also be available at select housewares stores in Japan starting soon.
The price for one Elecispoon currently is ¥19,800 (USD$128).
SOURCE: odditycentral.com
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