Researchers at Kumamoto University have developed a new technology that uses shock waves to extract juice from fruit.
Faster than the speed of sound, more powerful...uh, wait...the shock waves create up to several hundred megapascals (measurement of sound pressure?) of pressure....pressure 1,000 times that of a pressure cooker.
Fruit that is subjected to the process develops cracks in the cell walls, making it easier to get the juice out.
Coffee beans can be blasted to grind them down or to make tea leaves into powder.
Efficiency is also improved in the entire extraction process.
The technology is called 'artificial thunder.'
No heat is generated so food can be processed raw.
The thunder is applied momentarily, thus producing production times and costs for juices, coffee and tea.
Steps are being taken now to develop a compact processing device - making things smaller is what Japan does best.
The cost of generating a shock wave can be reduced to a few dozen yen.
Beverage plants, stores and restaurants are waiting in the wings.
"Mama, can I have some orange juice?"
"Hang on, honey while I call down thunder on these oranges."
Does this sound like a device you'd like to have at home?
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