We’ve created this page as a guide to show you how to use your Kalsi copper water bottle safely and effectively. Please take some time to read through the information on this page before using your Kalsi bottle for the first time.

 

This article should only be used as a rough guide and always consult your medical or health professional for individual advice, especially if you have any current medical conditions.

 

What is the copper water ritual?

Drinking copper water is a ritual taken from Ayurveda that has been practiced in India for hundreds of years. The procedure is known as Tamara-jal; literally translated from Sanskrit to mean copper (tamara) water (jal). Traditionally the water is stored in the copper vessel overnight and then drank first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. The water needs to spend some time inside the copper vessel in order for the copper to seep in and “charge” the water with the medicinal qualities. The longer you leave water inside your copper bottle, the stronger the copper taste will be. You can drink water from the bottle at anytime, but we advise storing water inside your bottle anywhere between 4-8 hours in order to get maximum health benefits. In the most traditional sense, the best way to perform tamara ritual is as follows…

# Fill the water bottle at night just before you sleep.

# Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

# Try to ensure the water is not stirred or shaken too much before drinking.

# Wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else.

 

About your Kalsi bottle.

Your Kalsi Copper bottle has been handmade in India (the motherland or Ayurveda).

Copper, unlike steel or other metals, is quite a tricky material to process and that’s why our bottles are all handmade, rather than being machine produced. As with any hand-finished item, no two bottles will ever be the same and while we’ve tried our best to avoid discrepancies, it’s entirely normal that your bottle may show minor blemishes as a result of the hand-finished process.

Why Do Copper Bottles Turn Black?

Copper is a reactive metal and it’s therefore to be expected that the bottle will change colour over time. This oxidisation is a natural process known as “patina” and usually means your bottle will transform into a darker shade or sometimes turn a slightly green colour. Another result of patina is small black dots or lines developing on the surface of the bottle.

Please note that all of these occurrences are entirely natural and can easily be removed with the lemon & salt deep cleaning method mentioned below.

How to use your bottle for the first time?

We recommend following these simple steps before using your copper bottle for the first time…

# Rinse the bottle a few times with clean running water.

# Fill the bottle with room temperature water and enjoy!

 

Extra tips for using your Kalsi Bottle.

 

KEEP THE BOTTLE DRY

This might sound like a silly tip for a water bottle, but the dark oxidisation marks mentioned above will develop much quicker when the copper surface is left slightly wet and exposed to air. We therefore recommend drying the bottle quickly on the outside after filling the bottle with water, because it is these thin streaks of water (exposed to air) that cause the oxidisation to happen quickest on the surface of your Kalsi bottle.

To prevent oxidisation happening on the inside, it is a good idea to keep the bottle constantly filled with water. This way you can use the water as a shield to protect the inner copper surface from being wet and exposed to air. If you ever need to store the bottle away, then make sure you dry it quickly inside before placing the cap on, as small residual water left inside the bottle will cause it to turn black inside very quickly.

Please also note that these black marks are entirely harmless and will not affect your Kalsi bottles ability to purify water. The marks can also be easily removed using the lemon/salt method described below.

SQUEAKY LIDS

Pure copper bottles do have the annoying habit of squeaking at the lid! The best thing you can do to reduce this sound is to rub a small amount of oil into the threading on the bottle cap. We recommend using any kitchen cupboard oil you have at home (coconut or olive oil work just fine). Simply apply a pinch of oil onto your fingertips and then rub this into the threading on the bottle cap. Repeat this process as and when required.

 

NEVER PUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN WATER INSIDE YOUR KALSI BOTTLE!

We have deliberately put the title of this tip in RED CAPITAL LETTERS because this one is so important. Copper is a highly reactive metal and if you add anything acidic, it will immediately react with the copper surface and cause the most horrible bitter taste! We do however recommend using lemon or vinegar for cleaning purposes and this is okay, so long as you really flush the bottle thoroughly with lots of clean running water before reusing it.

 

KEEP THE BOTTLE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Ayurveda always recommends drinking room temperature water (even during the hot summer months) in order to maintain a good agni (digestive fire). In a similar way it’s best to keep your Kalsi bottle outside of the fridge. Do not use your Kalsi bottle for hot drinks like tea and coffee and never store the bottle inside the freezer. We also do not recommend storing the bottle in the refrigerator either as the copper will slightly expand, making the lid difficult to remove.

 

DEEP CLEANING

It’s entirely normal for your copper bottle to develop black spots (known as patina), which is a result of the oxidisation process. These spots are harmless and will not impact the effectiveness of your bottle in anyway. However, if you wish to remove these marks then follow these steps…

 

INTERNAL CLEANING

# Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the bottle. You can use 2x tablespoons of vinegar if you don’t have any lemon.

# Add 1 teaspoon of salt and about 150ml of water to the bottle. Seal the lid tight and shake well for 30 seconds.

# Drain this mixture and then wash the bottle thoroughly several times with clean water.

 

EXTERNAL CLEANING

# Cut a fresh lemon or lime into half

# Dip the exposed flesh of the fruit into some salt and then using this as a natural sponge to rub the outside of the bottle in circular motions.

 

IF YOU DECIDE TO FOLLOW EITHER OF THESE CLEANING METHODS THEN PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU RINSE THE BOTTLE VERY THOROUGHLY AFTERWARDS WITH PLENTY OF CLEAN RUNNING WATER.

 

General advice for copper water ritual

Drinking copper water is a wonderful, simple and healthy procedure that anyone can enjoy, but there are also some risks that you need to know before you start this morning ritual. At Kalsi we are always concerned for the health and wellbeing of our customers. Please read through all of these tips and information to make sure you get the best experience out of using your copper bottle and do reach out to us if you have any further questions.

 

GO SLOW IN THE BEGINNING

Yes, there are many good reasons to drink copper charged water, but as with anything related to wellness, too much of a good thing can also be a bad thing! Copper is an essential mineral that all of us need in our bodies, but finding the right balance is key. Ayurveda constantly reminds us that each person is unique, and so some people will be able to handle or require a lot of copper water, whereas others might not need so much to reap the same rewards. Many of us already receive copper in our diets, especially if you eat a lot of nuts, seeds and leafy greens, so again, your own individual circumstances will dictate how much copper water is right for you.

The best thing is to always listen to your own body. Common signs of too much copper intake might be feeling nauseous and/or experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea, so if you experience these symptoms, then either back off for a while or reduce your intake.

 

TAKE A TIMEOUT FROM COPPER WATER RITUAL EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE

If you practice this ritual on a daily basis, then we recommend taking a timeout for 5 consecutive days in every month in order to remove any excess copper deposited in your system. Of course, the best guide is always to listen to your own body, as it will tell you when you need to take a break.

 

DO NOT PUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN PLAIN WATER INSIDE YOUR BOTTLE

Copper is a highly reactive metal and will cause a horribly bitter taste if anything other than water is stored inside. This is especially the case for acidic-based drinks, such as orange or lemon juice. The only time we recommend using citrus inside the bottle is for cleaning purposes (please see above) for which we then recommend rinsing the bottle very thoroughly with lots of clean water before reusing to drink water.

 

ONLY DRINK ROOM TEMPERATURE WATER INSIDE YOUR BOTTLE

We recommend using the bottle for drinking room temperature water only. Hot or boiling water may cause the water to over-charge, with too much copper deposits. Ayurveda actually says that we should all drink lukewarm/room temperature water rather than cool or cold water, in order to maintain a healthy agni (digestive fire).