To Those That Use Bubble Tea Straws

Decorating By cai0311 Updated 26 Jul 2014 , 6:53pm by mattyeatscakes

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cai0311 Posted 24 Nov 2009 , 6:07pm
post #1 of 29

How much weight can they support? Is there a limit that you say "I have to switch to something stronger?"

28 replies
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aundron Posted 24 Nov 2009 , 6:23pm
post #2 of 29

I have done a 5-tiered cake using bubble tea straws!! I love using them versus wooden dowels.

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MadeYaLook Posted 24 Nov 2009 , 6:39pm
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The 5 tier cake in my pics was done using bubble tea straws. Bought SPS to do it and didn't even use them.

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icer101 Posted 24 Nov 2009 , 6:59pm
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my 3 tier square cake in my pics... i used bubble tea straws.. and lots of them... for each tier. wished i had used the wooden dowels.. hth.. i have the sps system also.. but am not truly sold on that either.. maybe for a small tier cake.. don,t know?

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all4cake Posted 24 Nov 2009 , 7:14pm
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That's all I use on all of my tiered cakes. I used sharpened wooden dowels to spike down the center. I use two cake boards(regular corrugated cardboard kind most of the time or one foam core board) for cakes with more than two tiers and one board for two tiered ones. I use fewer straws than I when I used dowels. I have found that the pastel colored bubble tea straws are flimsier than the clear ones with the stripes...I have also found that regardless of which support method chosen, the collapsing problems occur when the base isn't thick/stiff enough.

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cylstrial Posted 24 Nov 2009 , 8:29pm
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I'm the exact opposite. I'd rather use wooden dowels anyday than use bubble tea straws. I did a wedding cake using them and they just didn't support the cake well enough at all.

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Sweet_Guys Posted 24 Nov 2009 , 8:54pm
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We did a three-tier, three-layer each topsy turvy cake and the bubble tea straws worked just fine!

Paul

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Loucinda Posted 25 Nov 2009 , 1:27am
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Every tiered cake in my photos I used bubble tea straws on. (even the 4 tiered one) Never a problem for me. I use the clear ones with the stripes.

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Adevag Posted 25 Nov 2009 , 6:19pm
post #9 of 29

I just received my first order of bubble tea straws (that I decided to try thanks to all recommendations here on CC), but mine are not the striped version. In fact, I did not even know there were two different kinds of bubble tea straws. I don't have a store that sells them so I have to order online. Is there a way to select the clear and striped kind when you order online? (Sorry I went a little off topic)

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all4cake Posted 25 Nov 2009 , 9:08pm
post #10 of 29

I order mine online as well...it was just in placing sporadic orders from various companies that I found the difference in strengths. The sites I order from have images/descriptions of the items...I tried a couple different styles the last time.

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Sweet_Guys Posted 26 Nov 2009 , 3:36am
post #11 of 29

We got ours from Panera. The manager was really nice and agreed to sell me a bag of 500 for $10.

Paul

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aej6 Posted 26 Nov 2009 , 3:44am
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I used straws from Dunkin Donuts and they worked great for a 3 tier cake!

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MissRobin Posted 1 Dec 2009 , 4:09pm
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How do you measure the height needed for your straws. As with wooden dowels, I stick them in, mark them and pull out and cut. How exactly is it done with the straw, because the straw is going to fill up with cake, is that going to matter???

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Rylan Posted 1 Dec 2009 , 6:45pm
post #14 of 29

I've stacked up to 5 tiers as well--almost 4 feet tall.

As for measuring, I just stick the straw to the cake, mark it, take it out and cut it.

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all4cake Posted 1 Dec 2009 , 6:51pm
post #15 of 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rylan

I've stacked up to 5 tiers as well--almost 4 feet tall.

As for measuring, I just stick the straw to the cake, mark it, take it out and cut it.




icon_eek.gif Those must've been some taaaaaaaaaaall tiers!

yep, just like that

and it doesn't matter that there's cake inside the straw...I just leave it in there and replace that cut straw into the same hole the cake plug came from.

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__Jamie__ Posted 1 Dec 2009 , 7:00pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aej6

I used straws from Dunkin Donuts and they worked great for a 3 tier cake!


Oh cool! How much did they cost?

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LeanneW Posted 1 Dec 2009 , 7:16pm
post #17 of 29

I buy extra fat straws at Cash & Carry. I use a lot of them too. in a three tiered cake i will use 5 or 6 in the bottom tier and then at least 4 in the next tier. I always center dowel with a sharpened wooden dowel, even for 2 tiered cakes.

switching to thick fat straws was so much easier for me because I just make sure each tier is level, i actually use a level, and then I place the straws in and cut them with clean kitchen scissors flush with the top of the cake. Since each tier is level then the whole cake will be level if each straw was cut flush with the level top.

i find it much easier than marking the first dowel and cutting the rest to length. I could never actually get them all the same length no matter what I used to cut them, shears, a saw, a box cutter, never level.

when in doubt use more straws than you think you need.

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creations Posted 1 Dec 2009 , 7:37pm
post #18 of 29

i bought my first order of bubble straws at a local asian market ( i payed .99cent for 25 ) and as far as how much it can hold the more u put in on the cake the better support u can have , if u just put ony 4 on a 3 tier cake YES is not going to support very well, I rather put many straws then those wooden dowels that so hard to freaking cut . lol

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camomama5 Posted 23 Jul 2014 , 6:30pm
post #19 of 29

AWhen using bubble tea straws for a 4 tier cake what would you use as a base plate or board? I've only ever used cakestackers, which are AWESOME, but if I'm doing a wedding cake a couple hours away i don't want to drive back to pick up my expensive cakestackers. So I'm looking for something different for those far away cakes so that once I drop it off I can forget it.

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AZCouture Posted 23 Jul 2014 , 7:56pm
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AYou mean underneath each tier? Cardboard rounds, tuff boards, whatever you usually use. I personally cut my own with foam core (not from the shelves at hobby stores, ordered in bulk and prepped for sanitary surface).

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ellavanilla Posted 23 Jul 2014 , 8:02pm
post #21 of 29

I just picked some up at Bed Bath and Beyond. 100 for $1.99. They call them milkshake straws.

 

FYI Rose Beranbaum talks about piling weights on regular straws to test for strength and found them to be able to carry a lot more weight than a cake without compromising the support. 

 

I just like the big straws because they are easier to see, and lord knows, caterers will serve a cake with a straw in it!

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cai0311 Posted 24 Jul 2014 , 2:12pm
post #22 of 29

AI forgot all about this thread. I started it 5 years ago.

I now use bubble tea straws for all my cakes. No matter the size, icing, distance for delivery... They would great!

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camomama5 Posted 24 Jul 2014 , 7:04pm
post #23 of 29

AAZCouture....yes underneath each tier. Is one cardboard round strong enough? I use nothing but IMBC and it seems to be heavier, I think. Also each of my tiers is always at least 4" high, sometimes 5 or 6" high.

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AZCouture Posted 24 Jul 2014 , 8:30pm
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AI guess, I know plenty of people who do use them, I don't recall reading that they double them up.

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javajammer Posted 25 Jul 2014 , 12:01pm
post #25 of 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZCouture 

You mean underneath each tier? Cardboard rounds, tuff boards, whatever you usually use. I personally cut my own with foam core (not from the shelves at hobby stores, ordered in bulk and prepped for sanitary surface).


Where do you order your pre-cut foam core circles from?

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ellavanilla Posted 25 Jul 2014 , 11:16pm
post #26 of 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by javajammer 
 


Where do you order your pre-cut foam core circles from?

 

 

she cuts them herself

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AZCouture Posted 26 Jul 2014 , 5:42am
post #27 of 29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellavanilla 
 

 

she cuts them herself

Yep yep yep! I trace the cake pan that corresponds to the tier I am going to put it on. And cut just outside of that line if I want a little more frosting all around.

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sweettia Posted 26 Jul 2014 , 7:22am
post #28 of 29

AI've never actually tried the straws but I'm definitely excited to try them since I'm doing a tiered cake for my sister and I birthday coming up.

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mattyeatscakes Posted 26 Jul 2014 , 6:53pm
post #29 of 29

ABubba tea straws are the only support i use, tried the wooden dowels. Ewww.. So hard to cut, and the cake around it tastes woody..

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