How to open sugar packets: Reduce waste and spills
Sugar in packets is an indispensable component of every restaurant and café. Thanks to these small packets, we can sweeten our favourite drink with just the right amount of sugar we prefer. However, it turns out that many people don't know how to open a packet correctly. Check if you are doing it right.
Sugar packets have become an integral part of visiting a café or restaurant. Thanks to their convenient form, patrons can independently decide on the amount of sweetener to add to their coffee or tea. Not everyone knows how to open a packet without spilling sugar on the table.
Where did sugar packets come from?
Sugar packets first appeared in the United States in the latter half of the 20th century. At the time, restaurants provided customers with sugar bowls and glass dispensers, which were often perceived as unhygienic. It was this inconvenience associated with open sugar containers that led to the introduction of practical packets.
The idea of preparing single-use sugar packets came to the mind of entrepreneur Benjamin Eisenstadt. Being involved in the tea industry, Eisenstadt thought that packing sugar in small containers could be similar to packing tea. This way, transporting sugar and adding it to a drink would be much more convenient.
How to open sugar packets?
Although opening sugar packets may seem straightforward, it often happens that during the tearing process, the contents end up on the table or floor instead of in the cup. We usually try to tear off one end of the packet and pour the sugar into the cup. In fact, this is a mistake, as the small sugar packet should be opened in a completely different way.
How should a sugar packet be opened? Hold the packet over the cup and break it in the middle, trying to join the ends of the packet together. This way, the entire contents of the packet end up in the right place.
What happens to unused sugar in packets?
Dining establishments have strict guidelines regarding products that have been placed on a table. Even though the packets are factory-sealed, health regulations do not allow for their reuse. Unfortunately, these rules mean that every unused packet goes straight into the bin. This is not only a waste of sugar but also an unnecessary use of resources in the form of packaging.
In large restaurants, hundreds of packets may be discarded every day. Although this solution is justified in the context of adhering to sanitary standards, it raises a reflection on the waste of products that could still be used.
Remember to take any unused sugar packets home with you. You can use the sugar at home or while travelling. Otherwise, the packet you picked up when ordering a drink will end up in the bin.
