Chopsticks

 

Chopsticks are a pair of equal-length, tapered sticks, which have originated in ancient China in Shang Dynasty. They are most commonly made of bamboo, wood, or plastic, also made of ivory, metal, and other materials. Chopsticks are used to pick up food by one hand with the cooperation of your thumb and fingers.

Normally, Chinese people prepare food in small and convenient pieces for the sake of easily picked up by chopsticks. Chopsticks are traditionally held in right hand only, even by some left-handed people, as left-handed chopsticks use is ragarded as improper according to Chinese etiquette. Now let me show you how to use it easily.

1. Place one stick in the root of your thumb.

2. Pick up the other stick, then place it between your thumb and finger.

3. The only thing we are going to do is to tilt your finger to create a slight movement of the upper stick towards the lower stick until you gain contact, try to repeat it again and again till you can easily pick up rice or food you want to eat.

Long and short Length:

Shorter chopsticks are used as eating utensils, and when you want cooking Chinese food, you'd better choose a longer version, which is usually about 10-inches length, long chopsticks make it perfect when deep-frying.

Material:

1. Bamboo and wood chopsticks are commonly used in both home and restaurants, due to their matte surface, you can pick up food easier than the rest ones, moreover, they are low in temperature conduction and cheap as well.

2. Plastic chopsticks, as cheap as bamboo or wood ones, but due to their slippery surface, it is not that effective to pick up food as bamboo chopsticks do. Remember that, whether long or short plastic chopsticks are not allowed to be used for cooking, as they may be damaged under high temperatures and produce toxic compounds, which are bad for our health indeed.

3. Metal chopsticks, are becoming more and more popular in home use, as they are durable and easy to clean, and resistent to wear, however.

4. You can also get ivory, gold, jade chopsticks if you are a true chopsticks lover, since you should pay a lot of money for that.

1. Do not toy your chopsticks with your food and dishes, tap on the edge of your bowl or plate is considered vulgar in China as well as in other countries, and you are also not allowed to draw someone's attention by doing this. In a word, do not make any noise with chopsticks while eating.

2. Never dig for food with your chopsticks. You are supposed to eat the food which are close to you.

3. It is rude to stab food with your chopsticks.

4. Just put your chopsticks across your bowl after you have finished your meal, this says that you are done. Keep in mind that never stick your chopsticks vertically into your bowl of food, in China, people see this as honor the dead.