[Sca-cooks] How old are drinking straws?

[Christina Nevin]

	That made me wonder just how early drinking straws are?
	Were they used in medieval times? Even if used in Classical
	times this wouldn't necessarily indicate use in the Middle Ages.
	Anyone know? While of course plastic ones are modern they
	can be made of other materials, paper, metal, glass, reeds.
	I would think when they were used they would show up
	in drawings of table settings or elsewhere.
	Stefan li Rous

Drinking straws are pre-Classical. They were used in ancient Egypt from the
first dynasties, and probably pre-historic, for drinking beer, so as to not
ingest the gritty bits, and are depicted in various tombs (sorry at work so
can't give you actual references, just trust me on this one). Can't comment
on their MA usage though.

Lucrezia


This electronic message contains information from CACI International Inc or
subsidiary companies, which may be confidential, proprietary,
privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure.  The information is
intended to be used solely by the recipient(s) named above.  If you are not
an intended recipient, be aware that any review, disclosure, copying,
distribution or use of this transmission or its contents is prohibited.  If
you have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately
at postmaster at caci.co.uk

Viruses: Although we have taken steps to ensure that this e-mail and
attachments are free from any virus, we advise that in keeping with good
computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free.