Copper Mug Guide (smooth)
The mug is made of solid copper, with a felt base. Below is how to use it for the first time and how to keep it clean.
In six steps
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Clean the mug first. Before first use, polish it inside and out with lemon and salt (not too hard: salt is mildly abrasive and dissolves well in the lemon juice), rinse thoroughly and dry it right away.
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Fill with water, tea or coffee. The mug is suitable for hot drinks. Avoid very acidic drinks and don't store anything in it for longer than a day.
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Hold it by the handle. Copper conducts heat quickly, so the wall gets hot with a hot drink. Hold the mug by the handle and set it on a coaster.
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Or let water stand overnight. Want to use the mug the tamra jal way? Fill it with still water in the evening and drink it the next morning.
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Wash by hand. Warm water and a soft cloth. Keep the felt base as dry as possible and dry the mug immediately afterwards.
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Polish when the shine fades. Every one or two weeks with lemon and salt (not too hard: salt is mildly abrasive and dissolves well in the lemon juice). Rinse well and dry right away.
Patina is part of it
Solid copper naturally changes colour a little as you use the mug. That's completely normal and actually a sign of pure, uncoated copper. If you prefer the shine, simply polish the mug with lemon and salt (not too hard: salt is mildly abrasive and dissolves well in the lemon juice).
Cleaning
Never use the dishwasher: it damages both the copper and the felt. Half a lemon with a pinch of salt is enough to make the mug shine again. Rinse well, dry immediately, and keep the felt base as dry as possible.
The heat and dishwasher detergent attack the copper and leave dull, uneven patches.
A velvet pouch is included. Keep your copper in it when you are not using it: that saves scratches and keeps the air off the metal, so the shine lasts longer. Put it away dry. If you see pale fibres on the velvet, they are sitting loose on top and a lint roller lifts them off in a few passes. There is more on that in the velvet pouch.
Polishing brings the shine back. To hold on to it, a hair-thin layer of wax keeps the air off the metal and stretches it from days to weeks. That is what how to keep copper shiny is about.
Questions about this product?
The most common questions are answered on the product page itself, or check the general FAQ page.