CES 2025: Kirin unveiled an e-spoon that enhances the flavor of salt
By ForGeeks At the opening of CES 2025, Kirin Holdings, a Japanese company known for its beverages and beer, demonstrated an innovative device, the electronic spoon, that enhances the salty flavor of food. The device uses a weak electric current to concentrate sodium molecules in food, enhancing the flavor of salt and umami in low-salt foods.
Kirin Holdings.
How does the e-spoon work?”
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The technology used in the spoon aims to:
- Concentration of sodium ions via weak electrical pulses.
- Enhancement of taste sensations, without adding salt to food.
This innovation allows food to retain flavor richness while reducing sodium intake – an important goal in Japan, where adults consume twice the recommended salt intake according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
An important goal in Japan.
Presentation at CES 2025
CES attendees could taste soup using the Kirin e-spoon at the CES Unveiled event in Las Vegas. However, not everyone ventured into the experiment, wary of using the same spoon in a mass event setting.
At the event, the Kirin e-spoon was used to make soup.
Despite the skepticism, research shows that the technology does work. It is the first commercial product based on research to win the Schnobel Prize for 2023, an award given for out-of-the-box scientific achievement.
Snobel Prize.
Accessibility and prospects
The Kirin e-spoon was launched in a limited edition in Japan in 2024 at a price of about $127 USD. The company plans to expand sales in the global market in the coming years.
In addition to the spoon, developers have created forks and chopsticks that also use electric pulses to enhance flavor.
Closure
The innovation from Kirin is not just a technological curio. The device could be an important tool to address excessive salt intake and possibly improve the quality of life for people suffering from hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
The device could be an important tool to address the problem of excessive salt intake and possibly improve the quality of life for people suffering from hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
