Care Guide

How to care for
your Tamryn.

Brass, copper and kansya are living metals. They reward attention and age into something more beautiful than the day you bought them. This guide tells you everything you need to know.

These metals improve with use

Unlike steel or ceramic, brass and copper develop a richer character the more they are used. Neglect dulls them. Use and attention makes them extraordinary.

Five minutes is all it takes

A quick hand wash and dry after use is genuinely all the daily care required. The occasional polish takes five minutes and restores the original shine completely.

We are always here

If you are ever unsure about caring for your Tamryn piece, write to us. And when the interior lining eventually wears — we replate it for you. Always.

01 · Daily Care

After every use.

These four steps take under five minutes and keep your piece looking extraordinary for decades.

01
Wash by hand with mild soap

Use warm water and a mild dish soap. A soft cloth or sponge only — never steel wool or abrasive scrubbers. Brass and copper scratch easily and those scratches accumulate over time.

02
Dry immediately and completely

Never air dry. Water left on the surface causes water spots and accelerates tarnishing. Use a soft dry cloth and wipe every surface — the base, the interior, the handle, the lid. Completely dry.

03
Store in a dry place

Store away from direct moisture and humidity. If storing long-term, a soft cloth or tissue wrap prevents surface contact marks. Avoid stacking without protection between pieces.

04
Oil occasionally

Every few weeks, rub a very thin coat of coconut oil over the exterior with a soft cloth. Buff it in. This maintains the lustre and forms a protective layer against moisture and air. Your piece will thank you.

02 · Restoring Shine

The natural polish.

When your piece has tarnished or lost its shine, this is all you need. Everything is already in your kitchen.

The Tamryn Polish
3 ingredients · 5 minutes · Works every time
🍋
Lemon juice
Half a lemon, freshly squeezed
🧂
Salt
A small pinch of table salt
🥥
Coconut oil
A few drops, to finish

Mix the lemon juice and salt into a paste. Apply to the surface with a soft cloth using gentle circular motions. You will see the tarnish lift within seconds. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Dry immediately and completely. Finish with a thin rub of coconut oil to seal and protect the surface.

For stubborn tarnish: Tamarind paste works equally well — there is a quiet poetry in using the same ingredients that cooked in your pot to clean it.

03 · The Rules

Do's and don'ts.

These are not suggestions. These are the things that determine whether your Tamryn piece lasts one generation or three.

Always Do
  • Hand wash with mild soap and warm water after every use
  • Dry immediately and completely with a soft cloth
  • Use wooden or silicone utensils to protect the interior
  • Polish occasionally with lemon and salt to restore shine
  • Oil the exterior with coconut oil every few weeks
  • Store in a dry place away from direct moisture
  • Embrace the natural patina — it is the metal ageing beautifully
Never Do
  • Never put in the dishwasher — the detergents are too harsh
  • Never use steel wool, abrasive pads or harsh chemical cleaners
  • Never leave water sitting on the surface after washing
  • Never cook highly acidic foods in unlined pieces (tomato, tamarind, citrus)
  • Never use metal utensils — they scratch the interior lining
  • Never store with other metal objects that may scratch the surface
  • Never use bleach or chlorine-based products near these metals
04 · By Metal

Care by material.

Each metal has its own character and its own specific needs. Here is what you need to know about each one.

Brass
Agni Collection · पीतल
Brass is the most forgiving of the three metals. It tolerates regular cooking and mild neglect better than copper.
The warm golden colour will deepen over time into a rich amber. This is the patina forming — it is not damage.
Polish with lemon and salt whenever you want to restore the original bright gold. Takes five minutes.
For lined brass pieces — never use acidic foods. For serving pieces without lining — all foods are fine.
The hammered surface hides minor scratches beautifully. The texture works in your favour.
Copper
Tamra · ताम्र
Copper is the most reactive metal — it shows fingerprints, water spots and tarnish faster than brass. It also cleans up faster.
Dry immediately and thoroughly after every wash. Copper + standing water = water marks within minutes.
The interior tin or silver lining is what makes it food-safe. Never use acidic foods in unlined copper.
Copper water bottles — fill with water the night before and drink first thing in the morning. Rinse with plain water after. No soap needed daily.
The reddish-brown patina on copper is called cuprite — it is natural and completely safe. Polish to restore brightness anytime.
Kansya Bronze
Aradhna Collection · काँसा
Kansya is the most durable of the three. It is an alloy of copper and tin — harder than both individually.
Kansya develops a beautiful muted grey-gold patina over time. This is considered a sign of quality in traditional Indian households.
For eating and drinking from kansya — Ayurveda recommends it specifically. The metal is food-safe without lining for most foods.
Polish with a paste of tamarind and salt for the most authentic traditional cleaning method. It has been used for centuries.
Kansya rings when struck — that clear resonant tone is how you know the alloy is pure. Your piece will make this sound.
05 · The Patina

It is not ageing.
It is becoming.

The patina that develops on brass and copper is one of the most misunderstood things about these metals. It is not damage. It is not neglect. It is the metal recording its history with you.

No two Tamryn pieces will develop the same patina — because no two kitchens are the same. The food cooked, the light it lives in, the hands that touch it — all of it shapes how your piece ages. That is the point of owning something handcrafted.

If you ever want the original shine back — lemon, salt, five minutes. But we hope you don't always want that.

Day 1 — New
Bright hammered gold. Every surface catches light. The metal is clean, fresh, and entirely itself.
3–6 Months
A warm amber deepens across the surface. The metal feels more lived-in. It begins to look like it belongs in your kitchen.
1–2 Years
Rich, complex tones emerge. Darker in the recesses of the hammer marks, brighter on the high points. It has become its own thing.
5+ Years
This is the heirloom finish. Deep, warm, impossible to manufacture. This is what gets passed down.
06 · When You Need Us

The lining wears.
We restore it.

The interior tin lining of cooking pieces will eventually wear with regular use over years. This is normal. It is not a defect. It is part of owning a living metal object.

The Tamryn Replating Service

When your interior lining shows wear, send your piece back to us. We replate it to its original condition and return it to you — complimentary, always, for the life of the piece. This is not an extra service. It is part of what you own when you own a Tamryn. Write to us at care@tamryn.in to arrange a pickup.

Contact Us