Teaspoon a passe! Clever cup stirs it all

London, Apr 18 (UNI) The elegant teaspoon, considered a must for English tea parties, can soon become a thing of the past with the invention of a mug that can stir liquid by itself.

The cup invented by two French designers allows liquids to be stirred without a spoon. All a drinker has to do to work the clever cup is gently swirl it.

This sets in motion a ceramic ball positioned at the bottom of the mug that stirs the contents.

Designer Florian Dussopt, 23, said, ''The cup aims at introducing a new way of drinking tea or another warm drink without using a spoon.'' ''The ball is put into a slightly protruding base to keep it in place when stirring and drinking. The ceramic ball mixes all various sugars and milk at the same time, thus eliminating the need for a spoon.

According to the designers, the combination of glass and ceramic is aesthetically appealing in its formal interpretation of the traditional cup and saucer.

Mr Dussopt said they would be introducing the cup, called Ceramic For Mix into bars and restaurants.

The aim is not to kill the spoon, but to suggest an alternative for a special occasion, he added.

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