UNICORN Kitchenware

A little history ...

Chopsticks play an important role in Chinese food culture. The Chinese have been using chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably started cooking their food by using twigs. Over time, people began chopping food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Small morsels of food could be eaten without knifes, so the twigs then evolved into the wooden, tapering sticks, “chopsticks”, as we know them today.

Some people think that the great scholar Confucius influenced the development of chopsticks. A vegetarian, Confucius believed knives would remind people of slaughterhouses and were too violent for use at the table.

Chopsticks may be made of any of several materials – bamboo, wood, gold, silver, ivory, pewter, and plastics. In cross-section, they may be either round or square. Some of them are engraved with coloured pictures or calligraphy for decoration. Chopsticks used in homes were usually made from wood or bamboo. Those used in banquets were often made from ivory, whereas gold chopsticks belonged only to the royalty and aristocracy. During the Middle Ages, aristocrats often used silver chopsticks as they believed that the silver could detect poisons in food.

Chopstick Etiquette – The Do's and Don'ts

Chinese food is somehow more satisfying when you master the art of eating with chopsticks. Or maybe it's because they help you slow down and really enjoy the food!

Regardless of how skilful you are at eating with chopsticks, you should pay attention to the basic courtesies and customs that are associated with using chopsticks. Here are some things you should be aware of.