3D printing has been around for quite a while now. From toucan beaks to houses, we have already created some pretty cool stuff using this technology. Yet, we’re only scratching the surface of its capabilities. While some are pushing it forward, attempting to produce 3D-printed food, a Japanese design studio has created something where you could put it.
For only ¥ 1,080 ($10), ReDeStu sells porcelain soy sauce dishes which “reveal” a painting once you fill them up. The series so far consists of Japanese national symbols (Mount Fuji, Itsukushima Shrine) and cute kitties and puppies.
Intriguingly, soy sauce is believed to have originated from a Chinese product called “chiang” more than 3,000 years ago. It first came to Europe around the 1600s through Japanese and Dutch trading. The word “soy” is derived from the Japanese word for soy sauce, “shoyu.”
Nowadays, there are several different types of soy sauce. They could be grouped based on their production methods, regional variations or taste and color differences. The traditional soy sauce is made by soaking soybeans in the water while roasting and crushing the wheat. Then the wheat and soybeans are mixed with a culturing mold, for instance, Aspergillus, and left for two to three days to develop. Then, water and salt are added and the entire mixture is left for fermentation anywhere for 5-8 months, although some types might age longer.
When 3D printing first came out the printers were too expensive to buy just for fun. However, this kind of 3D printing has become a trend and more and more manufacturers are manufacturing 3D printers, meaning they’ve become more accessible to both businesses and common people.
3D printing first used moldable plastic as a material, yet as the technology has progressed more materials are becoming utilizable. As you can see, you can now 3D print using things like ceramic, gold, silver, titanium, gypsum, and even biological substances.
