What's the purpose of a little tab at the end of chopsticks?

Chopsticks are kitchen/eating utensils that are shaped pairs of equal-length sticks that have been used in East Asia for over four millennia.

First invented and used in China, chopsticks later spread to countries that were tributary states of the Empire of China. In Southeast Asia, only Vietnam and ethnic Chinese communities consume all food with chopsticks. In Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Indian and Malay communities in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as in Nepal, chopsticks are generally used only to consume noodles. In Thailand, chopsticks have only recently started being used along with the spoon and fork.

This block is meant to be used as a resting table for the Asian utensils.

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8 Comments

john duckett

So wrong. The resting block is separate. The tabs at the end of the wooden chopsticks shown is simply how they are joined at time of manufacture, but other than that they serve no useful purpose, other than perhaps to suggest what end you hold. But as it is a Carol question I suppose allowance must be made for a modest level of incompetence. Phew!!!

Quang

That block only exist with disposable chopsticks in cheap takeaway restaurants. No such thing on any other types of chopsticks for home or for proper restaurants. Please check your fact

Carole Benner

That is nonsense. It’s how they are massed produced for take away. That’s where u break them apart. Good chopsticks that u buy don’t have that stub!

Phillip McCullough

I think it may be a result of the manufacturing process. The starting point of manufacture is a square piece of wood stock about a 1/4 inch square and 10 inches in length. The end of the piece is held in a lathe and is machined to a decreasing round from the tab in the lathe to the end of the chop stick. Although the tab might be used for other purposes, it is, in reality, a result of the process used to create a functional wooden stick.