Pre-salted beverage straw

Abstract

A beverage drinking straw having a pre-salted segment for use with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages is disclosed. A method for producing the beverage straw is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a beverage straw having an end pre-coated with salt, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a food-grade adhesive solution in a first reservoir, wherein the food-grade adhesive solution is characterized as having a surface;   providing a supply of margarita salt in a second reservoir;   applying heat to the food-grade adhesive solution;   providing a beverage straw comprising a first end, a second end and an interior;   inverting the beverage straw into the heated food-grade adhesive solution so that the first end of the beverage straw is oriented downwardly above the surface of the food-grade adhesive solution in the first reservoir;   moving the beverage straw downwardly until the first end of the beverage straw makes contact below the surface of the heated food-grade adhesive solution and the first end of the beverage straw and the interior of the first end become coated with the heated food-grade adhesive solution;   moving the beverage straw upwardly away from the surface of the heated food-grade adhesive solution while maintaining the beverage straw in the inverted position;   moving the beverage straw downwardly until the coated first end of the beverage straw makes contact below the salt and the salt adheres to the coated first end and interior of the first end of the beverage straw before the food-grade adhesive solution fully dries on the beverage straw;   moving the beverage straw upwardly away from the salt; and   inverting the beverage straw so that the first end of the beverage straw is oriented upwardly until the food-grade adhesive fully dries on the beverage straw.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the food-grade adhesive solution comprises gelatin, xanthan gum, agar, guar gum or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the beverage straw is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the food-grade adhesive solution comprises corn syrup. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a beverage straw having a segment pre-coated with food particles, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a food-grade adhesive solution in a first reservoir, wherein the food-grade adhesive solution is characterized as having a surface;   applying heat to the food-grade adhesive solution;   providing a beverage straw comprising a first end, a second end and an interior;   providing a supply of the food particles in a second reservoir;   inverting the beverage straw into the heated food-grade adhesive solution so that the first end of the beverage straw is oriented downwardly below the surface of the heated food-grade adhesive solution in the first reservoir;   moving the beverage straw downwardly until the first end and the interior of the first end of the beverage straw make contact below the surface of the heated food-grade adhesive solution and the first end and the interior of the first end of the beverage straw become coated with the heated food-grade adhesive solution;   moving the beverage straw upwardly away from the surface of the heated food-grade adhesive solution while maintaining the beverage straw in the inverted position;   moving the beverage straw downwardly until the coated first end of the beverage straw makes contact with the food particles and the food particles adheres to the coated first end and interior of the first end of the beverage straw before the food-grade adhesive solution fully dries on the beverage straw;   moving the beverage straw upwardly away from the food particles; and   inverting the beverage straw so that the first end of the beverage straw is oriented upwardly until the food-grade adhesive fully dries on the beverage straw.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the food-grade adhesive solution comprises gelatin, xanthan gum, agar, guar gum or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the beverage straw is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the food-grade adhesive solution consists of a mixture of water, fructose, high-gelling soy protein, and carrageenan. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the food particles comprises sugar sprinkles. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the food particles comprises a mixture of sugar and cocoa. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  where the food particles comprises chopped nuts. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the beverage straw is comprised of paper. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the beverage straw is comprised of metal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the beverage straw is comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the beverage straw is comprised of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the food-grade adhesive solution comprises corn syrup. 
     
     
         17 . A beverage straw having a pre-coated end for use with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, the beverage straw comprising a first end, a second end, an interior, food particles, and a food-grade adhesive attaching the food particles to the first end and interior of the first end of the beverage straw. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage straw of  claim 17  wherein the food particles comprise salt.