Choosing The Right Drinking Straw

We have an extensive range of paper drinking straws at WF Plastic, and are often asked which straw should be selected for a particular use. This short primer should assist anyone who might be wondering which straw to select for their business. As of November 1st 2022, most Australian state governments have banned single use plastic straws. We now supply all straws in paper, and in various colours and plies Australia wide. They’re also available in both individually wrapped and loose formats.

 

Take a look at our paper drinking straw range here.

 

These straws have the smallest bore (hole) so are unsuitable for thick drinks. They're mostly used for water, flavoured milks, soft drink and juices. The range of paper regular straws come in a variety of different colours.

 

Cocktail straws are essentially a short version of the regular straw, particularly suitable for tumblers and other shorter glasses where a regular straw would be too long. Cocktail straws are commonly used in bars and pubs. The range of paper cocktail straws is available in a variety of different colours.

 

These are purpose built for thickshakes, smoothies and other thicker drinks that will be consumed from a tall cup. Jumbo (previously also known as long thickshake) straws are particularly suitable if you intend to use a 16oz or larger cup with a dome lid. At 235mm, the extra length of these straws becomes important as the dome lid on the cup increases the height of the cup. The range of 235mm Jumbo straws is available in a variety of different colours.

 

Similar to the 235mm jumbo straw, standard 205mm jumbo straws are perfect for thickshakes, smoothies and other thicker drinks. Please note that the standard jumbo straws are shorter than the 235mm jumbo straw, so are less suitable for using with 16oz cups with a dome lid, or 20 / 24oz cups with flat lids. The Biopak range of 205mm jumbo straws is available in various colours and designs.

 

Flexi Straws are very similar to a regular straw, but have a flexible neck a short way before the end of the straw. This allows your customers to drink from a reclined position without tilting the cup. Flexi straws are commonly provided in hospitals where the majority of people are confined to beds. Flexi straws also have novelty appeal to children and can be a very popular choice for events as a result. Paper Spoon Straws Spoon straws are another straw from the regular straw family, and are equipped with a small formed spoon end. They're mostly used for slushees and other drinks that can be consumed both with a straw and also eaten bit by bit with a spoon.

 

The big daddy of the straw family is the bubble tea straw. These straws have a particularly large bore, capable of allowing a sago pearl to be consumed through it from drinks such as bubble tea. Bubble tea straws generally have one end cut diagonally so that the end can be used to pierce the heat sealed plastic lid of a cup of bubble tea. Paper bubble tea straws come in a variety of colours.