Whether your first experience with chopsticks involved a strange stabbing motion, or you took to the East Asian utensil like a bird in flight – if you’ve clicked through to this article, chances are that chopsticks have become a regular culinary fixture in your life.
The style of chopsticks varies between countries in East Asia, so it’s important to consider exactly what kind you’re looking for before purchasing a brand-new set. For instance, think about whether you’re in the market for Chinese-style chopsticks, which are longer and thicker than other areas in the world and feature slightly wider tapered ends. This is due to the nation’s cultural practice of sharing food. Long chopsticks make it easier to reach across the table to distribute dishes and try different dips.
On the other hand, you might prefer Korean chopsticks which, though similar in shape to Chinese chopsticks, are often made of metal for convenience, mouth-feel, hygiene and efficiency (says Gastro Tour Seoul) instead of bamboo or wood. Japanese chopsticks taper down to a more pointed end than Chinese ones as according to Kikkoman, this makes it easier to pick up small pieces of food like rice. They also tend to be shorter than other options used across East Asia.
Perhaps you’re considering incorporating the use of chopsticks into your at-home cooking practice – in which case you’ll need to search specifically for saibashi (Japanese chopsticks for cooking vegetables) and manabashi (Japanese chopsticks for cooking chicken and fish). They are usually made from bamboo or wood and allow for the handling of hot food with one hand. Cooking chopsticks tend to be roughly 30cm long, whereas chopsticks designed for eating will be roughly 20-23cm.
The use of chopsticks is deeply rooted in Chinese heritage, and the traditional length of the nation’s chopsticks is 7.6 Chinese inches long to represent the seven emotions and six senses. This translates into roughly 25.3cm, making them slightly longer than traditional home-use chopsticks, but shorter than ones used for cooking.
Now that you’ve got all the necessary information, keep scrolling for a round-up of the best chopstick sets to buy now.
See below
Set of 5 Bamboo Chopsticks
Length: 22.5cm
The ideal chopstick collection for kitchens which prioritise a pop of colour, this set of five bamboo chopsticks features pairs with red, yellow, blue, green and pink stripes. Mix and match each colour with a different pairing if you’re feeling wild.
Buy now £5.99, Etsy
Maruki Bamboo Cooking Chopsticks
Length: 33cm
This set of two brilliant wooden cooking chopsticks from Japan Centre is equipped with ribbed, tapered edges to prevent food from slipping out of your grasp. While eating chopsticks are traditionally held in the middle, cooking chopsticks can be held from further up, allowing you to cook hot food without the risk of burning yourself.
Buy now £3.98, Japan Centre
Fable The Chopsticks
Length: 22.8cm
Available with an ash black or dove grey strip of colour, these luxurious chopsticks from Fable are realised in a satisfying and contemporary squared-off shape. Crafted from bamboo which has been locally harvested, the colourful end of these chopsticks is achieved with food-safe polyurethane.
Buy now £24.00, Fable
Chinese Jade Chopsticks
Length: 21.5cm
If you’re looking to truly elevate your chopstick game in terms of both design and material, look no further than these beautiful Chinese jade chopsticks from Lichangmei on Etsy. The natural stone material consists of a mixture of marble and serpentine, which results in a characteristic jade-green hue.
Buy now £22.94, Etsy
Macaroon Coloured Ceramic Chopsticks
Length: 25cm
Realised in an array of different pastel colour combinations, these delightful ceramic chopsticks have been handcrafted with care. Each pair is made from A-grade fine bone china with high-temperature firing.
Buy now £12.95, Etsy
ProCook Wooden Chopsticks
Length: 23cm
Simple but effective, this set of two premium chopsticks from ProCook will serve up a brilliant addition to your cutlery drawer with their stylish wooden finish and satisfying striped detailing.
Buy now £7.00, ProCook
Lancewood Navy Japanese Luxury Chopstick Gift Set, 23cm
Length: 23cm
Lancewood is a strong and durable material, which ensures that these chopsticks will stand the test of time. They’ve been handcrafted using a traditional technique, and the ergonomic waves in the middle of each stick feel wonderful in the hands. The set comes in an attractive blue gift box and with a ceramic blue chopstick rest.
Buy now £29.99, Sous Chef
Hand-Carved Walnut Spoon and Chopsticks Set
Length: 19cm
This beautiful hand-crafted lunch set by Jaejin Choi combines practicality with exquisite design and serves as a brilliant gift for ramen lovers across the globe. Each piece is handcrafted from a solid piece of walnut wood and finished with natural beeswax to preserve the grain.
Buy now £95.00, Abask
HauSun 2 Pairs Chopsticks and Chopstick Rest
Length: 22.4cm
Shaped like bamboo and complete with adorable sleepy panda chopstick rests, this set of adorable chopsticks has been crafted from heat-resistant fibreglass and porcelain. What’s more, the bamboo design is both visually appealing and practical due to the fact that the ribbed sections help to ensure your fingers don’t slip.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Bamboo Chopsticks, Natural Wood, Handmade Chopsticks
Length: 24cm
With anti-slip ribbing and a delicate floral wrap design, you simply can’t go wrong with these practical and value-for-money bamboo chopsticks.
Buy now £3.00, Etsy
