Much Like Retro Matchbooks, People Collect These Little Tabletop Packets For The Memories - Tasting Table

Sugar packets offer a free, widely available collectible item found at coffee shops, hotels, and on airplanes. Collectors may start a “sucrology” collection by taking packets from tables. One collector shared a collection of about 1,400 packets, organized into labeled bags by the country where each packet was obtained. The packets were emptied so they became very thin and easy to store. Sugar packets can be compressed, allowing collectors to gather over 1,000 items. Older packets can be especially valuable to collectors of ephemera and scrapbooking materials. On eBay, a 1962 sugar packet was listed for $844.92.

"One of the most unique collector's items is available at most coffee shops, hotels, and on airplanes around the world, and it doesn't cost a cent. Even if you don't take sugar in your coffee, you may have noticed the unique shapes and designs that abound on sugar packets. Next time you do, and if you're so inclined to begin a new collection, snag one from the table and prepare to join the sucrology club."

"One sugar packet-collector - or, sucrologist, as they're known within the community - shared their collection of about 1,400 sugar packets on Reddit. Each of them is organized into a labeled bag of the country in which it was collected, highlighting both linguistic and design differences. They even mentioned that they emptied the sugar from each of the packets, making it literally as thin as a piece of paper."

"Compared to matchbooks, which can be bulky and come in a range of shapes, sugar packets can be compressed, making it possible for you to collect over 1,000 of them, too. Much like the unique hobby of cheese-label collecting or vintage cookbook collecting (which is ferociously competitive), sugar packet collections are worth a little something, especially those that have aged a few decades."

"On eBay, the most expensive sugar packet at the time of this writing goes for $844.92. It's a 1962 sugar packet. These little paper items are sought out by sucrologists, but according to one Redditor, they may also appeal to those who collect ephemera or who enjoy scrapbooking."

Read at Tasting Table