Reusable Silicone Straws for RTIC and YETI Tumbler 30 OZ 20 OZ, Smoothies & Milkshakes straw pack of 8 ,6 Big Straws+2 Cleaning Brush

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I bought these to use for home-made bubble tea and on the plus side, they are a good size; the boba (tapioca pearls) fit nicely, the same as with jumbo plastic straws you get in bubble tea shops. Another positive is the fun bright colours, which are just as vibrant as they appear on screen. It's worth noting that they are very flexible, so if you're looking to buy them for someone bed-bound then they should do the job since they'll bend to almost a 90 degree angle without the flow being constricted.My biggest problem with them is that they taste of silicone. I can only hope that this will reduce as they get used more but I'm sitting here using one for the first time (having hand-washed it before use) and there's an unmistakable aroma of plasticky rubber as I drink my tea. It's not overpowering, but it's very much there, and I imagine with a milder-flavoured drink it would be more obvious. I avoided getting metal straws because I didn't want a metallic twang and now I'm getting a silicone one instead, which is irritating since they specifically advertise them as not having a metallic taste. That's true, obviously, but sadly they aren't actually odourless!The other issue is that the brushes they provide are slightly too small. They're not only shorter than the straws (which isn't too bad as you can brush it from both ends), but they're also too skinny. They really should have a tight fit so that any residue can be properly scrubbed off from the force of pushing the brush inside, but instead you sort of have to slosh it around inside and hope for the best. I'll probably stick them in the washing machine from now on but it's irritating not to have the option, and the brushes seems a bit superfluous.Still, if you want to save the planet but can't bear not to use a straw then these are the minor niggles one must overcome to be environmentally friendly!