I am looking for the plastic tubes that are used as dowel rods. I have seen them used on ace of cakes and a couple of other cake decorating shows. Does anyone know where I can find them. They look like they are much easier to use than the wooden dowels. Actually they look like jumbo straws to me. As always thanks for the help

I am looking for them also. Sugarshack said they were bubble tea straws but I don't know where to get the either.

If you're looking for bubble tea straws, stop by a bubble tea shop and see if they will sell you a box or 2. Also some ice cream shops use Shake straws which are much fatter than regular straws.

bubble tea is pretty in right now so you should be able to google "bubble tea" + city and find a place near you.

good luck.

look at restuarant supply stores.... or asian grocery stores.

I just bought 4 packs at Michaels Craft Store. Plastic dowel rods

I used to use the plastic dowel rods by Wilton but then discovered bubble tea straws and never looked back. They are wonderful, and dirt cheap. 50 for $1.29 at my local Asian grocery store.

Okay, love the suggestions, but live in the boonies here! I have no restaurants, worth mentioning, no dessert ice cream parlors, no restaurant supply places, definitely no tea shops, and Michael's is almost a 2 hours drive for me with high Wilton prices. Anybody know some place online? Please...

Malakin - I found them online at this store www.bobateadirect.com. I wish I would have gone to the asian food store. They were 2.99 for a bag of 50, but the shipping will kill you. I ordered 3 bags to make it worth while and shipping was still $6.00 I hope this helps. And thanks to everyone for the advice.

Awesome. I've already ordered some now. Have you used this already?

i also like the straws from racetrac for their frozen drinks. surely you have a racetrac gas station near you.

I use Toba's method of using lollipop sticks for dowels and a large bamboo skewer for a center dowel if necessary. It's already sharpened on the end, just tap down and it's done. Just use dykes to cut the sticks or skewer! By using the stick and skewers you don't mess up as much cake...

I don't know what bubble tea straws are, but a friend of mine uses straws she bought at the $1 store. They're different colors, larger around than regular drinking straws and very sturdy. I helped her with a cake one day and was shocked at how sturdy these straws are.

I just bought some at an oriental grocery store in the city. But in the past i just used the biggest size straw i could find that didnt' bend..and it worked just fine. I just used more of them.

I get mine from tentea.com

You can also use "Potable Water" PVC pipe, it is easy to cut with a PVC pipe cutter, doesn't cost a lot when purchased at a large home supply store, cut them to any length, very strong, easy to clean and with a little effort you can get all of the writing off of the sides of them.
I buy them 6 or so at a time and keeps me going for a while. I also live in a rural area and I discovered these in a tight when I did not have time to get to a cake store.
Linda2530