How the Modern Paper Drinking Straw Was Invented

A 19th-century patent for a paper tube coated in wax, designed to replace natural rye grass straws for drinking beverages.

What it covers

The patent describes a method for manufacturing a drinking tube by winding strips of paper around a mandrel to create a cylinder. The cylinder is then coated in paraffin wax to prevent it from becoming soggy when submerged in liquid. This mechanism provided a durable, sanitary alternative to the hollow rye grass stems commonly used at the time.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover plastic or metal drinking straws.
• —Does not cover the use of natural plant-based stems like rye grass.
• —Does not cover non-cylindrical drinking implements.
• —Does not cover methods of manufacturing straws using non-paper materials.

The clever bit

The innovation was the application of a paraffin wax coating to a paper substrate, which solved the fundamental engineering problem of structural integrity when exposed to moisture.

Why it matters

This invention marked the transition from natural, inconsistent drinking tools to mass-produced, sanitary consumer goods. It established the standard for the paper straw industry that persists today as a primary alternative to single-use plastics.

Real-world examples

• 1.Paper straws found in modern cafes
• 2.Biodegradable beverage tubes