When was the straw invented?
The straw was invented in ancient times.
Early Straws
In ancient Sumeria, people used reeds as early versions of straws around 3000 BCE. They would hollow out a plant stem and use it to sip their drinks.
Around 1400 BCE, people in ancient Egypt began using metal straws, particularly those made from gold and silver.
Bamboo Straws and the Middle Ages
During the Tang Dynasty in China (618-907 CE), people used bamboo straws to drink tea. Bamboo straws were also common in Florida during the Seminole Wars in the 1800s.
In Europe during the Middle Ages, people used hollow rye stems as drinking straws.
Paper and Plastic Straws
In the 19th century, people started using paper straws. Marvin C. Stone invented the modern paper straw in 1888, which was made by winding paper around a pencil and gluing it.
Plastic straws were invented in the 1960s by Joseph B. Friedman. He added a bendable neck to the straw to make it easier to drink from.
Conclusion
So, the straw has been around for a very long time! From reeds and metal to bamboo, paper, and plastic, straws have evolved over the centuries to make drinking more convenient for people.
