An Ice Cube Alternative: Frozen Titanium Spheres

This is another of those products that archaeologists will wonder about, when they dig them up in the distant future. Chinese company Xuzhou Herui Outdoor Products Co. sells these Frost Titan Core Balls, an ice cube alternative made out of titanium. Sealed inside are water and glycerin, the cooling agent.

The idea here is that ice, as it melts, dilutes whatever you're drinking. The titanium balls don't, nor do they impart any flavor. They could also be added to something you'd never dream of putting ice into, like beer, to keep it frosty.

The company previously made these in a cube-like shape, but switched to spheres. "While the cube shape is stylish," they write, "the corners meant there was a risk of causing small scratches on delicate glasses."

The spheres are about 1.5" in diameter, and come with their own carrying container.

These don't appear to have U.S. distribution, but are sold in Japan for the pricey cost of ¥10,780 (USD $71) a pair.