If you are reading this, you have probably just unwrapped a copper bottle from us, and scanned the little card that came with it. Thank you. For trusting us with your home, or with your guests and colleagues, this year. We wanted to send something that would sit on your desk or bedside every day, quietly doing you good, rather than something that is eaten by the weekend. This page explains why we chose copper.
Light, and the metal of the lamp
Diwali is the festival of lights, and for generations the lamps, the puja thali and the kalash at the heart of the celebration have been made of copper and brass. Copper, or tamra, has a special place in Indian homes: it was the vessel that held the water for the day. Ayurveda describes the habit simply. Fill a copper vessel with water at night, and drink it in the morning. This water is called tamra jal.
It is a habit that has outlived almost every fashion in wellness. Here is what we know about it.
What copper does for water
1. It is naturally antimicrobial
Copper surfaces kill many bacteria and viruses on contact, an effect known as the oligodynamic effect. Copper ions disrupt the cell walls and enzymes of microbes. It is the reason hospitals use copper alloys on door handles and rails, and why the US Environmental Protection Agency registered copper alloys as antimicrobial surfaces in 2008.
For drinking water specifically, a study published in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (2012) stored contaminated water in copper pots for 16 hours at room temperature. Harmful bacteria, including E. coli, fell to levels that could no longer be detected, while the copper in the water stayed within safe limits. That is the science behind the overnight habit.
2. Copper is an essential mineral
Your body cannot make copper, and it needs a little every day. It helps form red blood cells, absorb iron, keep nerves and the immune system healthy, and build collagen for skin and joints. Adults need roughly 0.9 mg a day, most of which comes from food such as nuts, seeds, whole grains and pulses. Water from a copper bottle adds a small, gentle top-up.
3. What tradition credits it with
Ayurveda associates copper-stored water with better digestion, balance of the body’s doshas, and a fresher start to the day. These are long-held traditional beliefs rather than results proven in clinical trials, so we offer them as that: wisdom many families swear by.
4. It is kinder to the planet
A good copper bottle lasts for years and replaces hundreds of single-use plastic bottles. Copper itself can be recycled again and again without losing its quality. As hoteliers, we think about waste every day; this felt like a small way to share that.
How to use your bottle
- Plain water only. Fill it with room-temperature drinking water.
- Let it rest. Leave the water in the bottle for six to eight hours, or overnight, and drink it in the morning.
- A few glasses is plenty. Two to three glasses a day from the bottle is the traditional amount. Drink the rest of your water from a glass as usual.
- Refill daily. Empty and refill the bottle every day rather than topping it up.
Keep out of your copper bottle
Lemon water, juices, tea, milk, fizzy drinks and anything sugary or acidic. Acids dissolve copper and can make the drink unpleasant and unsafe. Avoid hot water too, and never put the bottle in a dishwasher.
How to care for it
- Every day: rinse the inside with clean water and let it dry upside down with the lid off.
- Once a week: clean the inside with a little lemon juice and salt, or white vinegar and salt. Swirl, leave for a few minutes, rinse thoroughly and dry.
- The outside: copper darkens naturally over time. This patina is harmless. To bring back the shine, rub with half a lemon dipped in salt, or a paste of tamarind, then rinse and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
- Avoid steel wool and harsh detergents, which scratch the surface.
A word of balance
Like most good things, copper is best in moderation. Very high amounts are not good for anyone, which is why we suggest a few glasses a day rather than all of your water. If you have a condition that affects how your body handles copper (such as Wilson’s disease), are pregnant, or have been advised by your doctor to limit copper, please check with your doctor first. This article is general information, not medical advice.
From all of us at bnbme
We started bnbme in Dubai in 2018 with a simple belief: a home should be cared for the way a good hotel cares for a room, in the small details, every single day. A copper bottle is a small detail too. We hope it becomes part of your mornings.
To our owners, thank you for trusting us with your homes. To our corporate partners, thank you for trusting us with your people.
Wishing you and your family a bright, healthy and prosperous Diwali.
Shubh Deepavali.
- Diwali
- Wellbeing
- Gifting