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The 'drinking straw' is a device used for transferring a liquid - usually a drink from one location to another (such as from a cup, to your mouth). A thin tube of plastic (especially polystyrene) or other material, straight or with an accordion-like living hinge, it is employed by being held with one end in the mouth and another end in the drink. Muscular action reduces air pressure in the mouth, whereupon atmospheric pressure forces the drink up the straw. The first straws were made by the Sumerians, and used for drinking beer (as to avoid the solid byproducts of fermentation). Argentines and their neighbors use a similar metallic device called bombilla that acts as both a straw and sieve for drinking mate tea. The modern drinking straw was patented in 1888 by Marvin C. Stone.

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Types of drinking straws

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Types of drinking straws

★ A basic drinking straw is straight for the full length.

★ A bendable straw or "bendy straw" has a concertina-type hinge near the top for convenience. Warning may develop a hole in it when you bend.

★ A "crazy" straw is hard plastic and has a number of twists and turns at the top. When liquid is sucked through the straw, it quickly flows through the winding path, creating an entertaining spectacle.

★ A spoon straw features a cut-away shape at one end that functions as a miniature spoon. It is intended for slush drinks.

★ Candy straws, such as licorice straws (or lico-straws).

★ A miniature straw often comes attached to a drink box.

★ A wide straw is used for sipping bubble tea. Fast-food restaurants, such as McDonald's, give out wide straws for two reasons: The wide straw simplifies drinking their thick milk shakes, and it allows customers to consume ordinary beverages faster.

★ Modern straws were originally constructed of paper, lightly coated with wax. They tended to collapse if sucked on too hard, so were eventually supplanted by plastic.

★ "Sanitary" straws are individually wrapped to avoid contamination. Straws were originally marketed as a means for people to reduce the risk of contracting an illness from improperly washed containers, glasses, or cups.

★ A hot straw is a straw used for hot drinks. Its purpose is to prevent people from scalding their tongue or lips from the hot drink. The Starbucks' version of a hot straw looks like two green skinny straws stuck together, the McCafé version is like a flatten piece of black straw leaving two holes on the side. A hot straw is often mistaken for a stirrer because of the appearance of the straw. [citation needed]

★ The Sipahh. A drinking straw that contains flavoured tapioca beads that dissolve as milk passes over them to add colour and flavour.

External links

★ History of beer and bread (and Sumerian straws)

★ How plastic drinking straws are made (not easy to understand)