Several coffee chains offer a discount if the customer brings along their own cup. At festivals such as the Bavarian
Oktoberfest, costs due to theft or breakage are avoided without using disposables: The customer pays an upfront fee for a drinking glass or mug and receives a
rebate at its return. clay bowl with
dahi (curd) A
kulhar is a traditional handle-less
clay cup from
South Asia, which are being used as alternatives to plastic cups due to their biodegradable nature. they are typically unpainted and unglazed, and meant to be disposable. The most interesting feature of
kulhar is not being painted and that differentiates a
kulhar from a terra-cotta cup. The
kulhar cup is unglazed inside out. Since
kulhars are made by firing in a
kiln and are almost never reused, they are inherently sterile and hygienic. Bazaars and food stalls in the
Indian subcontinent traditionally served hot beverages, such as tea, in
kuhlars, which suffused the beverage with an "earthy aroma" that was often considered appealing.
Yoghurt, hot milk with sugar as well as some regional desserts, such as
kulfi (traditional ice-cream), are also served in kulhars. Kulhars have gradually given way to
polystyrene and
coated paper cups, because the latter are lighter to carry in bulk and cheaper. ==See also==