Kirin Holdings has launched two innovative tableware products that help make low-sodium food taste richer. The new Electric Salt Cup and the upgraded Electric Salt Spoon use gentle electrical stimulation to enhance salty and umami flavours, without adding extra salt.
The products respond to a growing global need for healthier eating habits. High salt intake remains a major health concern, yet many people struggle to enjoy low-sodium meals. Kirin addresses this challenge through design-driven food technology that fits naturally into daily dining routines.
For product and packaging designers, the project shows how technology, materials and user experience can work together in everyday objects.
The Electric Salt products look and feel like regular tableware. They are not medical devices. A very weak electric current flows from the utensil into the food during use. This subtly changes how the tongue perceives saltiness and umami.
Research carried out with Meiji University indicates that the perceived saltiness of low-sodium food can increase by around 1.5 times. Individual experiences may differ, depending on the user and the dish.
Kirin developed the products in collaboration with Japanese electronics specialist YA-MAN. Together, they focused on stable current flow, intuitive handling and safe everyday use. Kirin’s Institute for Packaging Innovation played a key role in testing, engineering and material performance.
The Electric Salt Cup builds on feedback from users of the original Electric Salt Spoon, launched in 2024. Many people wanted to drink soup directly, rather than use a spoon. Kirin responded by developing a compact cup with integrated electronics.
Both the cup and spoon are dishwasher-safe and designed for frequent use. Their appearance blends easily into existing tableware collections. The design avoids a technical or clinical look, which lowers the barrier to everyday adoption.
For designers, the products offer a strong example of how emerging technologies can be embedded into familiar forms without changing user behaviour.
Kirin plans to expand the Electric Salt range and further develop electric taste technologies. Future applications may go beyond salt and umami. The company also aims to introduce the products to other Asian markets from 2026.
Electric Salt highlights how product design and material thinking can contribute to health, sustainability and everyday wellbeing.
Source: Kirin Holdings
Photos: Kirin Holdings / mkupiec7