Chopsticks are a common way to eat a bowl of noodles or other typical East Asian foods at a restaurant. History says that chopsticks were first made in China before the Shang Dynasty (1766–1122 BCE) and the beginnings of the Xia Dynasty (around 420 BCE) (9000 years ago).
At that time, people thought chopsticks were used for things other than eating, like cooking, starting fires, or serving food all at once. Since the Han Dynasty, chopsticks have only been used at the table.
Over time, chopsticks have become a common way to eat in China and other parts of Asia, such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Using chopsticks does require a particular way of doing things. Each country has its own rules about how to hold chopsticks. Also, each country has its style of chopsticks.
And here are the types of chopsticks you need to know based on where they come from.
1. Chinese Chopsticks
As was already said, chopsticks came from China. Most Chinese chopsticks are long and have a broad base. The ends are usually the same size as the base.
Most of the time, these chopsticks are made of wood and have a rectangular shape, so they don’t slide around. The ends are also slightly blunt, so they don’t poke holes in the food.
There is a reason why the chopsticks are so long. Most Chinese people like to eat together, which is something to keep in mind. So, it would be best if you had long chopsticks to reach food that isn’t right next to you.
2. Japanese Chopsticks
Most Japanese chopsticks are made of wood and shorter than Chinese chopsticks. The tip of Japanese chopsticks is smaller than the base, giving them a slimmer look. This is meant to make picking up the fish bones easier when you’re eating.
Japan has more than one kind of wooden chopsticks. Waribashi, which means “split,” chopsticks are another type. These chopsticks are made to be used only once and then thrown away. Waribashi is made of a light wood with a small hole in the middle. The hole isn’t big enough to break the wood.
When someone wants to use these chopsticks, all they have to do is break them in half. They are then ready to be used as eating tools.
Chopsticks are now a normal part of life for Japanese people. Chopsticks aren’t just used for eating. They are also used for cooking and leading funeral processions.
3. Korean Chopsticks
Korean chopsticks are different from those of the other two countries because they are mostly made of stainless steel. This is because chopsticks were made of pure silver in the past when Korea was still a kingdom.
If the food contains toxins, the silver chopsticks will change color because of a chemical reaction. Over time, cheaper stainless steel started to replace silver chopsticks.
Not only are Korean chopsticks made of stainless steel, but they are also thinner and more flat than Chinese and Japanese chopsticks. They are also a little bit longer than chopsticks from Japan.
Because Korean chopsticks are made of metal, they have a rough edge or are made a little wavy to make it easier to pick up food. Some even used engravings or pictures on the handle to tell them apart.
So, you need to know about the different kinds of chopsticks. We hope that the above information can help.