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‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

theguardian.com

11–20 of 139 posts

Re: ‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

#13
post #3

Can we be pedantic about the simplistic title? Japan did not invent the chopsticks, but some researchers at a university that were sponsored by a beverage manufacturer did. If these researchers were anywhere else, what would the title read?

> Can we pedantic about …

I tend to agree. The country in which it was invented, or the nationalities of those who invented it, are not relevant at all.

You might include the country if it was newsworthy. Such as new evidence that “The Roman Empire invented the table fork”.

I think sub-editors put country descriptors in as mild click bait. Japan is perceived as having an interesting record of niche eye raising inventions. If it was “France invents an electric spoon that makes food seem sweeter” I am not sure I’d be as ready to visit that article as this one.

Re: ‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

#14

A bit sad that they confuse umami with salt in the opener but this does sound like a great invention. An acquaintance suffers from kidney disease and due to the zero salt intake has lost much appetite for food. A lot is still possible when cooking with tomato or mushroom rich foods but it’s hard. Something like this would be welcomed!

They say it works the same way on sodium glutamate ions, so I guess it boosts umami too.

I'm wondering whether it'd work to make something like this myself.

Re: ‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

#15
post #3

Can we be pedantic about the simplistic title? Japan did not invent the chopsticks, but some researchers at a university that were sponsored by a beverage manufacturer did. If these researchers were anywhere else, what would the title read?

Oh no that is dweeb blasphemy. Never ever question or even dare to criticize any little thing concerning the alleged awesomeness of all things Japanese.

Re: ‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

#16

The question is, is the saltiness only limited to the minisecond (if) the chopsticks touch the tongue or even in the food bits?

To me a lot flavours are very noticable in first second(s) and quickly lose their intensity after that. It might not be much of an issue if it only tastes more salty for the short time while the chopsticks are in your mouth, if the brain continues to to think the food is salty.

Re: ‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

#17

A bit sad that they confuse umami with salt in the opener but this does sound like a great invention. An acquaintance suffers from kidney disease and due to the zero salt intake has lost much appetite for food. A lot is still possible when cooking with tomato or mushroom rich foods but it’s hard. Something like this would be welcomed!

The article states that this device works on Sodium Chloride and Sodium Glutamate, so technically both tastes apply.

Re: ‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

#18
post #3

Can we be pedantic about the simplistic title? Japan did not invent the chopsticks, but some researchers at a university that were sponsored by a beverage manufacturer did. If these researchers were anywhere else, what would the title read?

Probably "French researchers invent electric chopsticks". The fact we can identify "Japan" as an entity says a lot about the cultural weight it holds. Not a bad thing.

The bad thing is that the cultural weight Japan holds is based on myths, hearsay, misunderstandings, or lack of deep insights due to the language barrier. The image of Japan in the US and to a lesser extent in Europe is very far removed from reality.

Re: ‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

#19
post #3

Can we be pedantic about the simplistic title? Japan did not invent the chopsticks, but some researchers at a university that were sponsored by a beverage manufacturer did. If these researchers were anywhere else, what would the title read?

“Those whacky Japanese” is an anglophone news media trope.

Re: ‘Electric’ chopsticks that make food seem more salty

#20
post #15
post #3

Can we be pedantic about the simplistic title? Japan did not invent the chopsticks, but some researchers at a university that were sponsored by a beverage manufacturer did. If these researchers were anywhere else, what would the title read?

Oh no that is dweeb blasphemy. Never ever question or even dare to criticize any little thing concerning the alleged awesomeness of all things Japanese.

I suppose you meant weeb(not "dweeb"), which is short for weeaboo[0], which in turn is short for wapanese, which, finally, is short for "wannabe Japanese".

[0] Originally used in an unrelated comic strip here: https://pbfcomics.com/comics/weeaboo/

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