Drinking Straw

Abstract

A coated pasta straw includes a substrate made of pasta (dry pasta) that is coated with beeswax covering the substrate. Beeswax is a biological material that, in some embodiments, is organic (produced per organic farming standards). Beeswax is bio-degradable and does not negatively impact the environment and has a higher melting point than many other waxes. During most uses as well as during storage, and transportation, the beeswax will not melt and the straws will not stick to each other. The beeswax repels liquids that are being consumed through the coated pasta straw and, therefore, impacts little or no flavor into the liquids. Therefore, the coated pasta straw will not substantially (or at all) impact the flavor and taste of the liquid being consumed by the coated pasta straw.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A straw comprising:
 a substrate made of a pasta that is hardened; and   a coating over the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The straw of  claim 1 , wherein coating is beeswax. 
     
     
         3 . The straw of  claim 1 , wherein the pasta is made from durum wheat and water. 
     
     
         4 . The straw of  claim 1 , wherein the pasta is made from flour and water. 
     
     
         5 . The straw of  claim 1 , wherein the pasta is made from a liquid mixed with a flour selected from the group consisting of durum wheat flour, wheat flour, rice flour, whole wheat flour, legume flour, corn flour, barley flour, rye flour, and chestnut flour. 
     
     
         6 . The straw of  claim 5 , wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, tap water, milk, eggs, vegetable puree, and fruit puree. 
     
     
         7 . A method of making a straw, the method comprising:
 extruding a pasta mixture into a substrate having a hollow, tubular shape;   drying the substrate until hard;   dipping the substrate into a vat of a molten beeswax;   removing the substrate from the molten beeswax; and   flowing air over the substrate, thereby removing excesses of the molten beeswax and hardening the molten beeswax.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the pasta mixture comprises flour and water. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the flour is durum flour. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the pasta mixture comprises a liquid and a flour selected from the group consisting of durum wheat flour, wheat flour, rice flour, whole wheat flour, legume flour, corn flour, barley flour, rye flour, and chestnut flour. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, tap water, milk, eggs, vegetable puree, and fruit puree. 
     
     
         12 . A straw comprising:
 a substrate made of pasta that is dry; and   a coating of beeswax covering the substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The straw of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is pasta made from durum wheat and water. 
     
     
         14 . The straw of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is pasta made from a flour and a liquid. 
     
     
         15 . The straw of  claim 14 , wherein the flour is selected from the group consisting of durum wheat flour, wheat flour, rice flour, whole wheat flour, legume flour, corn flour, barley flour, rye flour, and chestnut flour. 
     
     
         16 . The straw of  claim 14 , wherein the liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, tap water, milk, eggs, vegetable puree, and fruit puree.