From Skeptic to Superfan: How Glass Straws Completely Won Me Over (And Why They’re the Perfect Stocking Stuffer!)

I have a confession to make: I was once the person who rolled my eyes at glass straws. “Too fussy,” I thought. “Probably tastes like drinking through a thermometer.” I swore I’d never be that person. Then a gorgeous new set of glassware arrived at my door—four bottom-heavy tumblers (two smooth, two delightfully ridged)—and tucked inside the box were four crystal-clear glass straws. I promptly exiled them to the junk drawer, convinced they’d live there forever.

Fast-forward a few weeks. I ran out of my usual plastic straws (yes, I’m a straw person—wrinkle warnings from my aunt be damned), and there sat those glass beauties, freshly washed in the dishwasher. Desperate for my 3 p.m. cold-brew fix, I gave one a try.

First sip: weird. It felt… bony. Like sipping through a very elegant icicle. Second sip: hmm, not terrible. By the end of the glass: I was officially smitten.That’s why I chose glass straws as my final product recommendation of the week leading up to Christmas. 

Here’s why:

  - They never collapse or turn into soggy paper mâché (looking at you, eco-friendly paper straws). 
- The thick borosilicate glass keeps drinks colder longer—perfect for iced coffee or sweet tea. 
- They’re ridiculously pretty glinting in the sunlight on my table. 
- Dishwasher-safe = zero effort. Just drop them in the utensil basket and done.

If you’re still hunting for the perfect little Christmas gift or stocking stuffer, grab a set of glass straws. They’re unexpected, eco-friendly, and genuinely delightful. Trust the former hater turned evangelist: whoever finds one of these in their stocking on Christmas morning is going to be delighted.

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we never knew we needed… until we can’t live without them.

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Tropical Lemonade with a Brazilian Twist

 

I’m sure that by now you have all heard, and grown tired of, Brazilian lemonade. Not this one, you haven’t. I took the basic recipe for Brazilian lemonade, and turned it into an adult version that is knock-your-socks-off unbelievably good. The original recipe is kid friendly, calling for 3 cups of water as the liquid. I decided to use one cup of water, one cup of coconut water, and one cup of coconut rum. Oh, mama! If you want to take a trip to the tropics without leaving your chair, this is for you.

 Now, you may be wondering why something that employs the use of limes only is called lemonade. Apparently it has something to do with translation. In Portuguese, limão is the term for both limes and lemons, ergo; any drink made with either of these citrus fruits is called limonada, that translated to the English “lemonade.” In my version, because I substituted some of the water with coconut water and coconut rum, I added the word “tropical,” but stuck with the original term of “lemonade,” despite using the limes. Whatever you want to call it, it is sensational.

Tropical Lemonade with a Brazilian Twist

 2 Melissa’s Organic limes

1 c. water

1 c. coconut water

1 c. coconut rum

½ c. sugar

3 T. sweetened condensed milk

1 ½ c. ice cubes

 Wash limes to within an inch of their lives. (I used this vegetable scrubber.) Cut off the ends and slice into eight wedges. Leave the peels on!

Place limes in a blender with water, coconut water, rum, and sugar. Blend until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove rinds, and return to the blender. Add sweetened condensed milk and ice cubes, and blend a final time. Serve in a tall glass, garnished with a slice of lime. (Thereafter, do not operate any heavy machinery.)

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