Registered Korean patent
KR 10-2761689
Patent holder · Kunmuk Co., Ltd.
U.S. patent application pending
TECHNOLOGY GUIDE
Bitter-Taste Ink & Functional Coating Technology
We bring bitter-taste functionality to printing and coating. Starting with your material and intended use, we explore how to implement that function on a product surface.
01 / THE TECHNOLOGY
What is
bitter-taste ink?
Bitter-taste ink incorporates a bittering ingredient into ink so that bitterness can be experienced on a printed surface. BITTER INK also develops coating approaches to implement this function.
Our own products use bitter-taste printing on selected picture-book scenes and bitter coatings on PET film. The intended use and material determine which processes and evaluation criteria need to be considered.
Explore BitterCare and BitterBooks applications →02 / MATERIAL & PROCESS
Material and process,
considered together.
Product and intended use
We identify the product, application area and problem to address. The starting point is the purpose, such as discouraging oral contact or adding a sensory experience.
Material and surface
Drawing on applications to paper and PET film in our own products, we review the substrate, surface condition and application area. New materials require separate sample evaluation.
Printing and coating method
We discuss process options with printing and coating partners, drawing on experience with offset, UV and gravure applications. Compatibility with an existing production process is reviewed individually.
Sample evaluation
We agree on relevant checks, such as bitter-taste expression, uniformity, adhesion and appearance. The evaluation scope takes actual use and storage conditions into account.
03 / DEVELOPMENT
From an idea
to sample development.
Share the purpose
Tell us about the product, material, use environment and intended function.
Technical review
Agree on process conditions, development scope and evaluation criteria.
Develop and evaluate
Prepare samples under the agreed conditions and review the results.
Discuss business terms
Explore supply, production, quantities, schedule and responsibilities.
Development fees, schedules and minimum quantities depend on the agreed scope. Safety and applicable requirements are considered for the final product’s intended use and sales markets.
04 / INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Protecting the technology
and the brand.
Registered trademark
BITTER INK®
Application No. · 40-2025-0107592
Registration No. · 4026080290000
QUESTIONS
Before a development
discussion.
Can I buy the ink directly?
We currently welcome product-specific development and partnership inquiries. Availability and supply methods for inks and coatings are discussed after reviewing the product requirements.
Can I get in touch at the idea stage?
Yes. Start with the product you have in mind and the problem you want to address. We can define a discussion scope even before the material or process has been finalized.
What should I prepare for an inquiry?
Product photographs or drawings, material details, the proposed application area and intended use are helpful. Please also share the expected quantity and preferred schedule.
LET’S DEVELOP TOGETHER
Let’s explore your product’s next possibility.
Tell us about your product, material, intended use, quantity and schedule. These details help us define the scope of a development discussion.