CHOPSTICKS
Place of origin: China
Countries of using: China, North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan
Inventor of chopsticks: The chopsticks were invented before ancient Chinese people could record by words, so there was no actual record about the inventor of chopsticks. According to the legend, Jiangziya( the first one to use two wood sticks to test if foods are poisonous because he thought those wood stickers were gift of gods) or Tanji ( a super beautiful imperial concubine used two hairpins to help the emperor cold the food) may be the first user of chopsticks after ancient Chinese people could record by words.
Time of invention: 3000 Years before (since ancient Chinese people could record)
Purpose of invention: The invention of chopsticks connected with the way how people eat. Ancient Chinese people start to observe different methods of cooking food but the following question they got was how to eat those food. It was so hard to eat with hand because those foods were so hot. Firstly they used one wood stick to fork the food but later they found out it was still hard to eat, so they created a way of using two wood sticks and these two wood sticks were later called chopsticks.
Diverse materials of chopsticks:
1.Copper (Ancient China)
2.Ivory (Ancient Emperor/ Wealth people)
3.Bamboo( Mainly southern part of China where bamboos are widely planted)
4. Silver (Korean)
5.Wood (Mainly northern part of China/Japan-Country that invented disposable chopsticks)
Process of manufacturing- Disposable Chopsticks
Cutting the logs-The logs of wood are cut into smaller rectangular blocks as preliminary preparation for streaming and cutting. The logs are cut into blocks that will fit the equipment for the next steps.
Streaming of cut logs-The cut logs are streamed for about 3-4 hours. This heating method is used in order for the wood can joe bent, shaped or peeled.
Peeling of streamed core- After streaming the cut logs for couple of hours, the logs are ready to be peeled into smaller boards. The thickness of the board is usually 5 millimeters.
Cutting the blanks-The peeled boards are then rolled in preparation for cutting. The cutting machine is customized to produce a linked pair of chopsticks in each cut. With use of a conveyor system, the but blanks are transferred to another machine for the net process.
Drying the blanks-The blanks pass through the drying process in order to remove all the moisture. the required humidity in drying the blanks is 9 degree Celsius. This process is undertaken to avoid cracking, warping or distortion of blanks later on.
Chamfering the corner of the chopsticks-This process is done to shape both ends of the chopsticks. This is also mechanically done.
Polishing-After the chopsticks are shaped, final touched are done in order to make the surface of the chopsticks smooth and polished.
Packaging
(NOTE: Usually, during the process of producing disposable chopsticks, disposable chopsticks will be soaked in hydrogen peroxide solution or smoked by sulphur to make them look better. SO FOR THE NEXT TIME IF YOU REALLY NEED TO USE DISPOSABLE CHOPSTICKS, PLEASE ALTERT DON’T USE THOSE DISPOSIBLE CHOPSTICKS THAT LOOK SUPER WHITE)
Environmental footprint: The process of making normal chopsticks is safe for the environment (Actually does not effect the environment a lot, even with cutting trees people will build a specific space to plan trees for making chopsticks) and they can be used for many times(recyclable).But the process of making disposable chopsticks is both toxic and inefficient. Toxic chemical compounds are commonly used by most of disposable chopsticks factories which make those chopsticks no longer recyclable. A test done by Chinese University students showed that even you washed the disposable chopsticks for the second time before using it, the amount of bacterias on it will still be 21 times as the normal chopsticks. Some high technical factories tried to use disposable chopsticks to make paper, but the fact also showed that there will be too many bacterias on the paper which make the paper can not be used.
| PROPERTIES | CAPACITIES |
| Length of chopsticks is just fit hand (The length of standard chopsticks is 25.3 centimeters) | Hold food by a pair of chopsticks |
| Light | Take food by insert one chopstick into the food （Use as fork) |
| Normally made of wood/bamboo (NOW) | Prise the bear cap |
| Wide on the back but narrow on the front | Hairpin (Commonly used in Qing Dynasty-China) |
| Smooth (Surface) | Mix liquids |
| Wood Grain on the surface | Be musical instrument (Different glass water cups) |
| Not so hard (Easily to be broken into two parts) | Taste safety of foods (Silver chopsticks) |
| Clear sound when hits each other | Draw straight line/ Use as measurement tools |
| Low density |
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