Discover how our vegetable drinking straws took center stage at Intergastra 2026 in Stuttgart. An edible, colorful straw made from vegetable starch for gastronomy.
Vegetable Drinking Straws at Intergastra 2026: A Review of Innovation and Sustainability
Vegetable drinking straws are transforming the way the hospitality industry thinks about sustainability. From February 7th to 11th, 2026, we traveled to Stuttgart to participate in Intergastra 2026. Behind us lie five intensive, inspiring, and surprisingly emotional days. Our booth was located in Hall 6, Stand E82—right in the heart of one of the most important trade fairs for gastronomy, hotels, and out-of-home catering in the German-speaking world.
A Strategic Move to the South: Why Intergastra?
For the past two consecutive years, we were exhibitors at Internorga in Hamburg. While Internorga felt like a home game for us, we made a conscious decision in 2026 to take a new step and present our vegetable drinking straws to Southern Germany.
Admittedly, we were nervous—but it was the “good” kind of nervousness. Intergastra is more than just a trade fair; it is a central platform where innovation meets tradition and future-oriented thinking. Our expectations were high, and we were ready to deliver.
Curiosity and Color: First Impressions from the Fair
From the very first day, our booth stood out. The vibrant colors and open concept acted like a lively splash of color in Hall 6, drawing in curious visitors who almost always asked the same question: “What exactly is this?”.
Many visitors—ranging from industry professionals to families—had never heard of tapioca root or arrowroot flour being used this way. We took the time to explain the magic behind our vegetable drinking straws over and over again, and that was exactly where the fun began.
What are our Vegetable Drinking Straws Made Of?
The core of our product is based on two primary plant-based ingredients:
- Tapioca Root: A natural raw material used for centuries in food production.
- Arrowroot Flour: Combined with tapioca to create a sturdy, reliable structure.
The result is a straw made from plant starch: plastic-free, vegan, gluten-free, neutral in taste and edible. This led to many “Aha!” moments among the crowd.
The Culinary Surprise: Deep-Fried Straws?
One of our favorite moments of the fair was showing off the versatility of our product. While visitors could test our vegetable drinking straws in both hot and cold drinks, we decided to go a step further: we deep-fried them and served them as a snack.
Yes, really! Lightly fried, the straws turned into a crunchy snack that sparked reactions ranging from disbelief to pure delight. Truth be told, between consultations and laughter, we might have eaten a fair share of them ourselves—purely for “testing purposes,” of course.
FAQ: Common Questions from Intergastra 2026
To help you understand why vegetable drinking straws are the future, here are the most frequent questions we answered in Stuttgart:
- Are they really edible? Yes, they are 100% edible, vegan, and gluten-free.
- How long do they last in a drink? In cold drinks, they remain stable for up to 4 hours; in warm drinks, for up to 2 hours.
- Do they dissolve? No. Over time, the texture becomes slightly gummy, but the straw remains intact.
- Where do the colors come from? Exclusively from vegetables: Red (Beetroot), Yellow (Turmeric), and Green (Pandan leaves).
- What sizes are available? We offer four sizes: Ø 8 × 150 mm, Ø 6 × 200 mm, Ø 8 × 200 mm, and Ø 12 × 200 mm.
More Than Just a Trade Fair
Intergastra 2026 was a confirmation, motivation, and inspiration all at once. It proved that there is a massive interest in sustainable, creative solutions for the gastronomy sector. We arrived in Stuttgart feeling nervous, but we left feeling grateful and encouraged.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited our booth, asked questions, and laughed with us. Special thanks to our wonderful booth neighbors, including IKEA Germany and Wepa Professional, for making the days lighter and more human.
Jetzt auf Naturstrohhalme umsteigen: Trinkhalme aus 57 % Tapioka und 42 % Pfeilwurz, ganz ohne Kunststoff!
Jetzt bestellenKontakt:
📞 +49 40 8707 6348
📧 info@natur-strohhalme.com
🌐 www.natur-strohhalme.com
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