First it was the spoon, now it's the cup: This new gadget makes everything taste saltier without using salt.

Over three years ago, Japanese food and beverage manufacturer Kirin developed chopsticks that use electrical stimulation to impart a salty flavor to food . This allows people with salt-related kidney disease to eat healthily without compromising the taste of their food. A year ago, the company also began selling an electric spoon capable of enhancing salty flavors without adding extra sodium .

And now, to complete the cutlery, Kiri has launched a mug that uses electricity to enhance the perception of saltiness in food . So, when the mug is on, it sends small, safe electric currents into the food. This way, the sodium ions are responsible for the salty taste, creating a more intense flavor.

The cup is expected to be used with soups , and although it's aimed at health-conscious consumers, Kirin plans to sell it in several Asian regions starting next year. Currently, it's available on the manufacturer's online store for 26,950 yen (approximately €156 ) and is expected to go on sale in retail stores as well.

All the food utensils that give salty flavor to food

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, chopsticks use electrical stimulation to impart a salty taste to food . Furthermore, to protect the body, Kirin developed an "electrical taste sensation" to modify taste perception. Like the other utensils, this invention is intended for people with kidney disease.

On the other hand, the electric spoon promotes good nutrition because it enhances salty flavors without adding additional sodium , considering that it works with a rechargeable lithium battery to improve the salty perception of food.