Le Whif
on 12/12/09
This is one of those great finds that you don't know whether it is the best invention in the world or just completely nuts, The Trend Boutique takes a look at Le Whif a chocolate inhaler from Paris.
From the country that bought us the fashionable Laduree macaroons, Champagne, and countless luxurious, decadent foods, Le Whif could only ever be created by French designers. When we heard of the concept of chocolate that you can taste, but not consume any calories we were very excited about the idea, and immediately imagined models & size 0's collectively 'sighing with relief'.
Great on style & concept, the name alone makes you want to try this novel confectionery. Each inhaler comes in a trendy little vacuum pack, that you pop open to reveal your inhaler. Each inhaler delivers 5 hits of chocolate, with the chocolate particles being delivered within the air that you breathe in.
Chocolate Inhaler by Le Whif
The technology behind Le Whif means that the particles have been engineered so they become small enough to become airborne enabling it to be used within the inhaler, but obviously the particles need to be too large to enter into the lungs. Created by Harvard Professor David Edwards (who has spent decades researching aerosol technology) and a collective of students & researchers at Le Laboratoire an art & science innovation centre in Paris. Originally Le Whif was created as part of a culinary experiment, but now is available to buy at La Gallerie Lafayette and online.
Harvard professor David Edwards, lead inventor of Le Whif, says: "Over the centuries we've been eating smaller and smaller quantities at shorter and shorter intervals. It seemed to us that eating was tending toward breathing, so, with a mix of culinary art and aerosol science, we've helped move eating habits to their logical conclusion. We call it whiffing."
Chocolate Inhaler by Le Whif
Whether 'whiffing' catches on is debatable, especially as it doesn't seem to us that the environmental impact of all that packaging and individual inhalers has been thought about. In addition, if you take a look at the amusing video clip that accompanies this article (who would ever think that we would be linking The Wright Stuff with a cool find!) you will see some of the problems in us adapting to this new technology. Maybe chocolate & inhalers are not the most instant of concepts, but The Trend Boutique see the potential in other applications (such as the wellbeing industry i.e. vitamins, medicines, or even by updating the traditional inhaler especially if can be delivered with a taste of chocolate), however it is definitely a lesson in slick marketing & design.
