FAQ

Yes. Our bottles, pitchers, carafes, mugs and cups are made from 99%+ pure copper. The mill test certificate for the copper sheet we buy shows 99.51% copper and 0.002% lead. View the mill certificate.

Yes. An accredited government lab, RTC Laboratory (Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, certificate TC-6683), ran an FDA lead and cadmium leaching test (method ASTM C738-20) on our copper jug, bottle, mug and glass. Lead and cadmium were both below the detection limit of 0.03 ppm, against FDA limits of 2.0 ppm for lead and 0.5 ppm for cadmium. Result: PASS. View the FDA test report or read both lab reports explained.

Because no copper bottle is 100% copper. Pure copper is too soft to hold a bottle shape, and commercial copper sheet always carries tiny traces of other elements. Sellers who promise "100% pure copper" are rounding up. We publish the number our certificate actually shows: 99.51%.

For most healthy adults, yes, when you use it for plain water. In a lab study, water stored in copper for 16 hours picked up about 0.18 mg of copper per litre (Sudha et al., 2012). That is well under the WHO drinking-water guideline of 2 mg per litre and the adult upper limit of 10 mg of copper a day set by the US National Academies. People with Wilson disease or another copper-metabolism condition should not use copper drinkware without their doctor's advice. More in is it safe to drink from copper?

No. The inside is bare, natural copper, so your water touches copper directly. The outside has a food-safe lacquer that keeps the shine.

No. Each bottle is formed from one seamless circle of copper sheet, so there are no soldered joints where water sits. Pitchers and mugs have welded handles rather than rivets.

Yes. We are the maker, not a reseller. Our copperware is made in our own workshop in India by artisans we pay up to 50% above typical industry rates, and Kaarigar has been making copperware since 2013. Because we buy the copper ourselves, we can show you the certificate for it.

1. Wash it with mild detergent when it arrives.
2. Fill it with plain drinking water at night and cap it.
3. Drink that water in the morning, after about 6 to 8 hours, the traditional Ayurvedic practice called tamra jal.
4. Refill and use it like any water bottle for the rest of the day.

Do not leave water standing in it for more than about 15 hours. More in how much copper water to drink a day.

Drinking your normal daily amount of water from a copper bottle is fine for most healthy adults. The copper it picks up is small compared with the 10 mg daily upper limit. Your food also supplies copper, so you do not need to drink extra to "get more".

Most people notice a soft, slightly mineral taste, especially in water stored overnight. A strong metallic taste usually means the bottle needs cleaning or something other than water was stored in it.

Use plain drinking water: filtered, tap or spring. Avoid sparkling, mineral-enhanced or flavoured water, and anything with added electrolytes.

No. Acidic and dairy drinks react with copper and draw out much more of it than plain water does. Use your copper bottle for plain water only. Lemon is fine for cleaning the bottle, as long as you rinse it out afterwards.

No. Heat speeds up the reaction between copper and water. Use room-temperature or cool water. Ayurveda traditionally recommends drinking your morning copper water at room temperature.

The fridge is fine. Do not freeze it: water expands as it freezes and can deform the bottle or damage the cap seal.

Not in any meaningful way. Copper adds trace copper ions to water, but it does not reliably raise the pH. If you want alkaline water, a copper bottle is not the tool for it. Read does copper make water alkaline?

Yes. It has a threaded copper cap with a food-safe silicone seal, so you can carry it in a bag. No plastic touches your water.

We do not recommend it. Oils cling to the copper and are hard to clean out, and crystals can scratch the inside or react with copper. Keep the bottle for plain water.

That is patina, and it is normal. Bare copper reacts with water and air and forms a thin layer of copper oxide. It is a form of copper, not rust, and it shows the bottle is real copper. A "copper" bottle that never changes colour is likely plated or coated. Read copper patina: remove it or embrace it?

Every week or two:

1. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt (or the juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of salt).
2. Top up with water, cap and shake, then leave for about 30 minutes.
3. Rinse thoroughly and dry with the cap off.

Hand wash only. Never use a dishwasher, bleach or steel wool. Step-by-step guide: how to clean a copper water bottle.

Green spots form when copper is left damp or something other than water was stored in it. Clean it with lemon or vinegar and salt, rinse well and let it dry fully with the cap off. If the spots return, make sure you are only storing plain water and drying it between deep cleans.

Every Kaarigar bottle is hand-hammered at least 1,200 times. Hammering adds surface area where water meets copper, work-hardens the metal so it resists dents, and gives a natural grip. No two bottles look exactly alike.

With basic care, for decades. Copper does not rust. Our bottles are made from thick 21-gauge copper, and every bottle is checked at least twice for defects and leaks before it ships.

• Copper water bottle: 950 ml (33 oz)
• Copper pitcher: 1.5 litres (50.7 oz), with 12 oz (350 ml) cups
• Copper carafe: 1 litre, with its own cup
• Copper water dispenser: 5 litres, with stand and cups

Yes. Kaarigar copperware carries the Kaarigar logo as a mark of authenticity.

Yes. We make handmade copper kitchen sinks, copper basins and copper bathtubs, and we can customise sizes and designs. Write to us for a quote.

Because we can show you what it is made of. Many cheap "copper" bottles are thin, plated, lined or soldered, and come with no test results. Ours are made from certified 99%+ copper, hammered 1,200+ times from one seamless sheet, tested for lead and cadmium, and made by artisans paid fairly. See our lab reports.

All orders are shipped within 7 days of purchase.

Yes, we ship to the US, Canada, Europe and many other countries. Shipping costs are shown at checkout.

Possibly. Each country has its own import rules, and any duties or taxes charged on delivery are paid by the buyer. Please check with your local customs office before ordering.

You can return unused items in their original packaging within 30 days of purchase. Return shipping is paid by the customer, and sale items cannot be refunded. We replace items that arrive defective or damaged. See our full refund policy.

Yes. We supply wholesale and bulk orders worldwide and can customise any product for bulk orders. Write to contactus@kaarigarhandicrafts.com.