Updated on: January 31, 2022
Originally published on: September 5, 2012
Glass Dharma Glass Straw Review
Like many people, every time I go to a drive-thru and order something with a drink, I always check my bag to make sure a straw has been included. Each time I go out to eat at a restaurant, I get a straw delivered with my drink. And I for one much prefer to use a straw when drinking out of cups that are not mine and that I did not wash.
If you have a young child apt to knocking drinks over, straws are a giant help. However, when you stop and consider the amount of plastic being thrown away daily for each person that uses a straw, it might make you not want to use them anymore.
Well, I have found an alternative, glass straws by Glass Dharma.
Glass Dharma is the original creator of the glass straw, starting production back in 2007. Their goal is to help create world-wide awareness about the negative impact of using single-use plastics on the environment.
Just to give you a rough idea of how many plastic straws are being used each day, here is a quote from Glass Dharma’s website:
“…Well, as of March 2008, McDonald’s serves an average of 52 million meals PER DAY! (Per their website) How many of those served do you think were given a plastic straw? Remember, this is just from McDonalds!! Are you getting the picture??”
Glass Dharma’s straws are all hand made in the USA. They offer a huge selection of sizes and styles, and will even create their straws to some personal specifications. They use a type of glass known as borosilicate, which is known for its strength, and resistance to heat and thermal expansion, so that it can easily withstand dishwasher and microwave use (a popular brand name is Pyrex®). Borosilicate contains NO lead, and is the strongest commercially available glass on the market.
Since the straws are glass, you can also rest assured that they will not leach any toxins into your drinks. Their straws are also backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, as well as a Lifetime Guarantee Against Breakage. Sounds great, right? I had the opportunity to try four of their straws and loved them!
As I mentioned before, Glass Dharma offers a great selection of three (3) straw designs, Simple Elegance, Decorative Dots and Beautiful Bends, all of which are offered in different lengths and diameter. If you are not sure about the length and diameter you may want, Glass Dharma has a page on their website which describes the different sizes along with pictures to help you decide.
SIMPLE ELEGANCE: [shown below in 12mm x 9” (Smoothie)]
- These crystal clear glass straws are available in different lengths and diameters.
- The three lengths offered are 6.25”, 8” and 9”, with varying INSIDE diameters including 2.5mm, 5.5mm, 7.6mm, and 11mm.
- Prices range from $6.50 up to $10.
DECORATIVE DOTS [shown below in 9.5mm x 9” Green (Ice Tea) & 7mm x 6.25” Amber (Sipper) ]
- These clear glass straws have exactly what the name suggests, colored beads for decoration. These beads are colored glass, they are not dyed or painted. They add a touch of whimsy, and are available in red, green, blue, amber, clear and black.
- They are available in two lengths (6.25” and 9”) and four INSIDE diameter sizes including 2.5mm, 5.5mm, 7.6mm and 11mm.
- Prices range from $8 to $12.
BEAUTIFUL BENDS [shown below in 9.5mm x 9”(Ice Tea)]
- These clear glass straws are slightly bent and a bit longer than the others
- They are available in one length (9”) and two INSIDE diameter sizes (5.5 and 7.6).
- Prices range from $8.50 to $9.50
A note about diameter:
As mentioned, Glass Dharma’s straws are available in four different diameters (shown above), but keep in mind that each straw has both an INSIDE diameter and an OUTSIDE diameter.
- The Bubble Tea has an OUTSIDE diameter of 14mm and an INSIDE diameter of 11mm.
- The Smoothie has an OUTSIDE diameter of 12mm and an INSIDE diameter of 7.6mm.
- The Iced Tea has an OUTSIDE diameter of 9.5mm and an INSIDE diameter of 5.5mm.
- The Sipper has an OUTSIDE diameter of 7mm and an INSIDE diameter of 2.5mm.
With a Glass Dharma straw, instead of using a straw one time then throwing it away, you can use these over and over again. Cleaning is a cinch, you can simply wash your straws after each use with warm soapy water using one of the brushes that are available for purchase, or you can just let them soak in warm, soapy water, or run them through the dishwasher.
If you notice the clarity changing this is caused by hard water conditions and all you have to do is soak them in distilled white vinegar. Using one of the cleaning brushes will quicken the process.
Now my family only uses our Glass Dharma straws, and I feel good knowing we are doing something to help the environment, plus, there is just something about drinking through a glass straw that makes you feel special!
Glass Dharma straws are available for purchase in select stores both online and off. Glass Dharma also sells their straws in sets which make for a great deal!
'They also sell Accessories which include stainless steel cleaning brushes that have medical grade nylon bristles, and hemp sleeves which are available in a variety of colors and make a great storage or carrying case.
I received this product for free for the purpose of review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor am I under contract with this company. All opinions are my own.





WOW That is just wild I have never seen glass straws ever & never heard of them before.Great Review Thanks
Those are so neat! Very good for the environment as well! Thank you!
These look so neat! I have seen glass straws before.
My girls use a ton of plastic straws. Not the ones from restaraunts, but reusable ones. I have ruined so many of them putting them in the dishwasher. I love that these are glass and dishwasher safe! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing such a cool product with us 🙂
Reusuable products are always great. I love straws!
I always make smothie for my kids and I just use ordinary PLASTIC straw that I bought from the Philippines.I like this product, it is transparent and easy to clean,means reusable. it save money,
We don't use the plastic straws in our house unless they are ones that can be reused. These glass straws look like something we could use. Thanks for the great info!
oh wow, these are very interesting. i haven't seen anything like this until today. really cool and it's reusable which is good for our environment.
https://michwood59.blogspot.com/2012/09/fathers-reward.html
that is cool! we do need to be ore aware of what we are doing to the enviroment
I've heard nothing but great things from these straws, I am def. entering, and checking them out more, either way I need some badly!
I have been actively getting rid of the plastic flatware that collects in my house. We had been reusing them, but then heard about all that hormone disruptor stuff, so out it goes. I'm still not sure about this though. I would think glass might be easily breakable. At least my kids would break them.
I have always wanted to try these straws out. I have children so I would have to be careful and they would only be mine!
Great review! I am slowly trying to get rid of most of the plastics in my house (unless they are recycled, of course)
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These seem awesome like the benefits of drinking out of a straw and the niceness of drinking from a glass. No chewing the straw though!
How awesome. I use straws all the time. I wans my disposable ones anyway, but these look great.
Those are so neat, I will have to get some I have to have a straw all the time and this will so help.
This is such a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing. I probably would never have known about these any other way!
Very cool! We use tons of straws (the disposable kind) so this this would be great for us! I will be back for the giveaway 🙂 Thank you!
Very cool, I love straws also but they have to be the smallest diameter. I also Love how Coke tastes in a glass cup so I will bet the glass straw makes it even better
Pretty neat, love the concept!