Australian firm Unistraw International says it is negotiating retailing agreements with British and US supermarket chains for its new Sipahh milk flavouring straws.

This month sales of the unique idea, featuring low-sugar tapioca beads contained in plastic straws for flavouring cold milk, were picking up at Woolworths branches in Australia, according to the company. Plain milk sucked up through Sipahh straws gains a number of flavours including strawberry, banana and chocolate. Only natural flavours and no artificial colouring are used in the product. Simple filters at each end of the straws stop the flavoured beans from escaping but allow full-flow of milk. Unistraw International, based in New South Wales, says that a single Sipahh straw will flavour up to 300 ml of cold milk.