Did you know that you can tell a country by its chopsticks? Indeed, even something as apparently simple as a pair of slender eating utensils can bear the signature of its nation of origin. Try keeping a sharp eye out the next time you go out to eat, and you’ll notice that the sticks at our Seattle Korean restaurant are different from those of other venues.
The oldest variety of chopstick comes from China. Here the chopstick is cut in more of a square shape than in other countries, and the tip is broader and blunter. This original shape is thought to be as old as five thousand years, and is preserved to this day by the Chinese.
In Japan, it’s more common to see rounded chopsticks. The tip also tends to be thinner than those of the Chinese.
The favored chopstick in Korea is made out of stainless steel. These sticks are crafted into a flattened, rectangular shape and decorated with ornate engravings along the broad sides.