The $200 electric spoon that tricks your brain into tasting more salt is back in the spotlight, and doctors say it could be a game-changer for low-sodium diets. The Kirin Electric Salt Spoon went viral again after TikTok reviewer Classy Bougie Budget shared his experience with the gadget, which uses a tiny electric current to make food taste saltier without actually adding any salt.
According to The Daily Dot, his video, which has racked up over 1.6 million views, shows him testing the spoon on a bowl of bakute, a dish he initially found underseasoned. Instead of reaching for the MSG, he grabbed the Electric Salt Spoon and instantly noticed a difference. “The food tastes so much better,” he said after cranking it up to the highest setting.
The spoon works by creating an electrolytic reaction with your tongue, which tricks your brain into perceiving more saltiness. The metal plate in the spoon conducts a weak electric current that enhances the perception of salt and umami, the savory taste found in foods like soy sauce and mushrooms. Classy Bougie Budget wasn’t shy about his skepticism at first. “This was almost $200, and I would be really p—-d if it didn’t work,” he admitted. But after trying it, he was sold.
It’s not magic. It’s science
Kirin’s innovative and useful spoon has real potential for people who need to cut back on salt for health reasons, like those with high blood pressure or kidney disease. Commenters on the TikTok video were quick to point out its benefits. “The science behind this is so cool!” one wrote.
“There is a small current of electricity you cannot feel, but when it hits your tongue, it makes you think you’ve eaten something a little saltier! It would be amazing for cancer patients potentially as well as people who need to be on low-sodium diets.” Another added, “The spoon works by forming an electrolytic cell with your tongue, so all the positive ions are strongly attracted to your tongue.” A third commenter even joked, “I wish they would do this for sugar for people who have a sweet tooth.”
Not everyone is convinced, though. CNET reviewed the spoon when it first launched in 2024, and while it was named the publication’s “best weird tech” at CES, the reviewer wasn’t entirely impressed. “I could see this spoon moving the needle in a meaningful way for people who need to quickly reduce their sodium intake for health reasons,” Taylor Leamey wrote.
“The Kirin Electric Salt Spoon is an interesting concept with an important mission of reducing sodium intake.” But she also noted that the experience felt a bit awkward. “When we tested the spoon, it amped up the broth’s flavor as described. However, I wouldn’t completely bank on this spoon just yet. The steps to getting it to work are awkward, and we can’t rule out the possibility that the placebo effect might be at play to some degree.”
Kirin hasn’t stopped at spoons
The company went on to launch an upgraded version of the Electric Salt Spoon alongside a brand-new product called the Electric Salt Cup. Both are designed to make low-sodium diets more enjoyable by enhancing the taste of food through electrical stimulation.
The Electric Salt Cup, which hit the market on September 9, 2025, is a sleek, dishwasher-safe cup that works similarly to the spoon. It’s designed for soups, noodles, and other liquid-based dishes, and it also has three intensity settings to adjust the level of saltiness. The cup is a bit pricier at 26,950 yen (about $180), but it’s a promising addition for anyone who prefers sipping their meals directly from a cup rather than using a spoon.
The upgraded Electric Salt Spoon, also released on September 9, has some key improvements based on customer feedback. It’s now smaller, more compact, and dishwasher-safe. The original version required users to unscrew the spoon from the handle and remove the metal strip before cleaning, which was a bit of a hassle. The new version simplifies the process, making it more user-friendly.
Kirin developed the Electric Salt technology in collaboration with the Meiji University Dr. Homei Miyashita Laboratory, which specializes in frontier media science. The tech is designed to enhance the salty taste of low-sodium foods by about 1.5 times, though the experience can vary depending on the dish and the individual. It’s not a medical device, but it’s a clever way to help people enjoy their food while cutting back on salt.
The Electric Salt series was born out of a simple but powerful idea: everyone deserves to enjoy delicious food, even if they’re on a restricted diet. Kirin cautions that the products aren’t recommended for minors or anyone with a pacemaker or other medical electrical devices.
The company has big plans for the future, too. They’re already working on expanding the Electric Salt lineup and exploring other ways to use electrical stimulation to enhance flavors beyond just saltiness and umami.
(Featured image: RDNE Stock)
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