So It Does Have A Purpose!

(BroBible.com)

I Think These Are the Best Kind Of Chopsticks

Korea: Why Metal Chopsticks?

Korea is the only country in the world to use metal chopsticks. Other Asian countries, including China, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia, use chopsticks made of wood, or bamboo. Not only are Korean chopsticks made of metal, but they’re also flatter, square in shape, and often more of a ‘middle length’ than the chopsticks you’d find elsewhere.

But why did Korea develop the tradition of using metal chopsticks? One major theory is that royalty during the Baekje period began using silver chopsticks as a way of protecting themselves from being poisoned by their enemies, as the silver would change color when in contact with a poisonous chemical. It is said that the common people then began to use steel chopsticks themselves, as a way of emulating the King.

Other theories state that, because Koreans used a spoon to eat their rice (unlike other Asian countries) it was not necessary to use stickier, wooden chopsticks. It is generally believed in Korea that metal chopsticks are more hygienic than wooden ones, too.

(GastroTourSeoul.com)

Did You Know - Eating Utensils Edition

From Chopsticks to Sporks: A Brief History of Eating Utensils

The chopstick, as we know it

As chopsticks spread in popularity throughout Asia, different cultures adopted the tool to fit their own predilections. In China, the sticks are commonly a little longer and thicker (hehe) than most other varieties, coming in a blunt, rounded edges (perhaps due to Confucius’ influence?). In Japan, the sticks are shorter, and tapered to a sharp, pointed end. Korean chop sticks are medium in length, and usually made of metal -- as opposed to the prototypical bamboo/wood sticks used by Japan and China.

Complete list (Thrillist.com)