Sauce Cups and Taster Packaging for Food Sampling

For food sampling, the simplest kit is a sugarcane taster piece plus a small sugarcane cup: the Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Mini Bowl (Carton of 1000) and Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Mini Plate (Carton of 1000) are $0.07 each, the Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Spoon (Carton of 1000) is $0.06 each, and the 1oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup (Carton of 2000) is $0.04 each for sauce or dip samples. All four are made from sugarcane and sold by the carton.

Key takeaways

• Taster mini bowls, taster mini plates and taster spoons come in cartons of 1000 (see the product page for the current price).
• For liquid samples, sauces and dips, the 1oz and 2oz sugarcane cups come in cartons of 2000 at $0.06 each.
• The 4oz sugarcane cups (white or unbleached) suit larger tastes, at $0.09 each in cartons of 2000.
• Separate lids are sold in sugarcane or clear PET for the cups, so you can prep samples ahead.
• No minimum order; all orders are prepaid online.

What packaging do you need for a food tasting or sampling stall?

You need something to hold a single bite, something to hold a small pour or dip, and a way to cover samples you prep ahead. At a market stall, product launch or in-store tasting, that usually means a taster piece (spoon, mini plate or mini bowl), a small portion cup, and a lid.

Sugarcane suits this job because the plain finish keeps attention on the food rather than the container. Almost every item in this post is sugarcane; the exceptions are the clear PET lids and the palm leaf dip dish.

Taster spoon, mini plate or mini bowl: which suits your sample?

Pick the shape by the food. The taster spoon carries a single mouthful that people eat straight from the piece; the mini plate holds a dry bite; the mini bowl holds something with a little sauce or a spoonable texture.

• [Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Spoon (Carton of 1000)](/product/srv-port-5): 101.5x50.6x29mm, white sugarcane. Suits a spoon of curry, pasta, dessert, yoghurt or salad that you hand straight to the customer.
• [Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Mini Plate (Carton of 1000)](/product/srv-port-4): 65x65x12mm, white sugarcane. Suits cheese, cured meat, cake, slice, chocolate or a cracker with a topping.
• [Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Mini Bowl (Carton of 1000)](/product/srv-port-3): 79.7x48x27mm, white sugarcane. Suits saucy bites, salads, noodles or a small scoop of anything wet.

All three are priced the same (see the product page for the current price).

Which small cups work for sauce, dip and drink samples?

The same small sauce cups do double duty: sauce portions with takeaway orders during service, and dip samples at a tasting. For sauces, dressings, dips and small pours, use the 1oz or 2oz sugarcane cups. The 1oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup (Carton of 2000) is white, and the 2oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup Unbleached (Carton of 2000) is a natural colour; both are $0.04 each.

When a sample needs more room, such as soup, a scoop of dessert or a side portion at a launch, step up to the 4oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup (Carton of 2000) in white or the 4oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup Unbleached (Carton of 2000) in a natural colour. Both are (see the product page for the current price).

If you are sampling a hot drink rather than a food, the 12oz Sugarcane Coffee Cups (Carton of 400) are white sugarcane cups at $0.21 each, sized for a full serve rather than a taste.

How do the sampling options compare?

Every figure below comes straight from the product listings.

Do you need lids for tasting cups?

You need lids if you portion samples before the stall opens, carry them between sites, or hand out sauces that customers take away. If every sample is filled and eaten on the spot, you can usually skip them.

Lids are sold separately, by the carton of 2000, in sugarcane or clear PET:

• Sugarcane Serving Container – Lid Fits C001 C002 Cups: sugarcane, 69.5x7.5mm, $0.03 each.
• Sugarcane Serving Container – Lid Fits C001/C002 Cups: clear PET, 65x8mm, $0.03 each.
• Sugarcane Serving Container – Sugarcane Lid Fits C004 Cup: sugarcane, 81x8mm, $0.05 each.
• Sugarcane Serving Container – PET Lid Fits C004 Cup: clear PET, 78x7.5mm, $0.03 each.

A clear PET lid lets people see the sample before they pick it up; a sugarcane lid keeps the whole set in one material. Check the cup code on each product page to match the lid to the cup before you order.

Which one should I buy?

• Farmers' market or deli counter handing out cheese, cured meat or baked goods: the Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Mini Plate (Carton of 1000).
• Caterer or restaurant running a menu tasting with wet dishes: the Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Spoon (Carton of 1000) for single bites and the Sugarcane Serving Container – Taster Mini Bowl (Carton of 1000) for saucy dishes.
• Sauce, chutney or dressing brand launching in store: the 1oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup (Carton of 2000) for dipping, with a matching lid if you pre-fill.
• Stall with a natural, rustic look: the 2oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup Unbleached (Carton of 2000) and the 4oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup Unbleached (Carton of 2000).
• Soup, dessert or larger tastes at a launch event: the 4oz Sugarcane Serving Container – Cup (Carton of 2000).
• Grazing table or event dip station wanting a natural serving dish: the Takeaway Container – Palm Dips Sauces 4" (Carton of 100), made from palm leaves, $0.29 each.

If your sampling stall also serves full portions, our guides to chip cups and sushi containers cover the next size up. The full range of portion cups, taster pieces and lids is in serving containers.

Ordering sampling packaging

There is no minimum order, so you can buy a single carton for one event. Delivery is a flat fee set by your postcode, and free once an order passes a set amount; checkout shows the exact cost, and today's rates are on the shipping page. Delivery takes 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional. All orders are prepaid online. Damaged or faulty items are replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost). If you know what you need, use quick order to add cartons in one go.

Setting up or restocking your packaging?

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No minimum order · free delivery over $750 (metro) / $1000 (regional) · damaged items replaced free · Delivery details