Did you know the Chinese take out box didn't even originate in China?
Of all the different food packaging supplies available, nothing stands out quite like the Chinese take-out box. Whether they are decorated with designs of dragons and Chinese pagodas or just plain white, the square folded box often brings to mind images of the far-east. However, this product is almost exclusively used in American Chinese cuisine and has no origins in China.
Only since post World War II, when Chinese food became popular, has the take-out box been used for American Chinese cuisine. Before then, it was known as an “oyster pail.” Developed in the United States in the early 20th century, it was used to carry oysters home from the market, back when oysters were plentiful and inexpensive. As oysters became less plentiful due to overfishing, there was an abundance of unused oyster pails that needed to find a new market. This adoption of the pails by Chinese restaurants has forever ingrained in our minds the association between Chinese food and folded, paperboard boxes.
Today, people are finding even more uses for oyster pails. They are being sold and used as containers for wedding or party favors, and crafty DIY-ers are gluing fabric and other embellishments onto them to make cute purses. It seems that people will always find crafty uses for packing materials, and food packaging supplies are no exception!
[...] on the look you want, and also the size of the favor. For a larger gift, you may want to use take-out boxes. For something small, you can even create an envelope using kraft paper or [...]