Picky eaters rejoice! Knorr is developing a SUPER stock cube that promises to mask the bitter taste of vegetables
- Knorr has developed a new ‘Supercube’ that ‘significantly reduces’ the bitter taste
- It is aimed at ‘supertasters’ who are particularly sensitive to bitterness
It’s a struggle that many parents around the world face almost every day.
But the days of convincing your kids to eat their veggies could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to Knorr’s new ‘Supercube’.
The cube can be used in cooking as a regular stock cube or sprinkled over vegetables, and promises to ‘significantly reduce’ any bitter flavors.
“Normally we want to give food an extra boost and add flavor to it so it tastes good,” says Alessia Ermacora, Global R&D Program Leader at Unilever.
‘But now we aim to lower the intensity for those who do not tolerate bitter tastes well.’
It’s a struggle that many parents around the world face almost every day. But the days of having to persuade your kids to eat their vegetables could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to Knorr’s new ‘Supercube’
The cube can be used in cooking as a regular stock cube or sprinkled over vegetables, and promises to ‘significantly reduce’ any bitter flavors
Are you a supertaster?
To find out if you’re a supertaster:
1. Darken your mouth by swirling red wine
2. Take a piece of stationery with holes in the margin, approximately 6mm in diameter
3. Place a hole over your tongue and count the number of papillae (small, fleshy projections) that come through
4. If you have less than 15 papillae you are a non-taster, if you have 15 to 30 papillae you are a taster and anything more than 30 means you are a supertaster
Place a hole over your tongue and count the number of papillae (small, fleshy projections) that come through
Difficulties with food – the tendency to be highly selective about the texture, taste and smell of food – is often seen as a consequence of inadequate parenting.
But there is evidence that it is actually a matter of nature and not nurture, with the parents being largely blameless.
In 2017, researchers discovered a variant of a gene called TAS2R38, which makes people “supertasters.”
People with this mutation are more likely to turn their noses up at broccoli, cabbage and spinach because of their bitterness.
Research shows that around one in four Brits are supertasters, although most don’t know they have the gene and simply think they are picky eaters.
In a new study, Knorr recruited 94 supertasters, who were asked about the impact of their condition on their lives.
The results showed that 77 percent felt stigmatized because of their intolerance to foods like cabbage and kale.
Additionally, 83 percent said they were called “fussy” or “fussy” as a child.
Johan Swahn, senior lecturer in culinary arts at Örebro University in Sweden and ‘supertaster’, said: ‘The TAS2R38 gene is not widely known to the general public, but it creates problems for so many.
‘However, it has given me an improved sense of taste, which has been a superpower in my previous work as a chef.
‘I also know that the gene is over-represented among chefs and sommeliers, giving them a clear taste advantage.’
To help combat the stigma, Knorr has developed a new stock cube aimed squarely at supertasters.
The Supercube is made from a blend of herbs, spices and natural flavors that reduce bitterness, although Knorr keeps the exact recipe close to the chest.
“It’s a really simple idea with huge potential for the 25 percent of the world’s population who are supertasters,” Ms. Ermacora added.
So far it has been tested in a small, limited-edition pilot trial in Sweden.
“If demand is high, Knorr hopes to bring the Supercube to the UK and other markets in 2025, at a price similar to a normal stock cube,” a spokesperson told MailOnline.