Dimensions
Dabba: 7.25" diameter x 3"
Materials
Food safe brass.
Contains
No spices, just the empty container.
Meet the Maker
TIIPOI:
Designed by Tiipoi’s industrial designer Andre Pereira in their studio in London, the Diaspora x Tiipoi Masala Dabba are made in Tiipoi’s workshop in Bangalore by craftsman Venkatesh Chinnappa aka Venky ‘Anna’ (which translates to older brother in nearly all of the South Indian languages ) Venky has been spinning metal for over 25 years and Tiipoi’s metal products since they began. You can read more about Metal Spinning in our blog post.
Tiipoi is a London based design studio with a workshop in Bangalore founded in 2013 by Spandana Gopal. Tiipoi believes that there is more to Indian design than just sticking an elephant on it, and that Indian craft has more to offer than simply repeating the past.
CARE:
Your dabba is made from brass, an alloy of copper and zinc. Like copper, brass is a living metal which develops a patina over time as it's exposed to moisture and touch giving it a warmer tone with use. Some people like this aged look, while some prefer to keep it shiny and bright! Clean the dabba as and when you need to, or as a nice seasonal ritual, it's up to you!
Just like you season a cast iron pan, begin your relationship with your dabba by rubbing all over with a little coconut oil and then wipe down with a clean towel to create a protective coating. This will help prevent stains from fingerprints or food touching it, and help it patina more beautifully and evenly.
To clean your patinated dabba, we recommend using Pitambari or Flitz - it’s a chemical cleaning paste that is USDA certified Food Safe. If you would like to use a more natural cleaning method, you can also use our flour & vinegar method.
Cleaning with Flitz:
Use a cleaning cloth or paper towel to rub a pea-sized amount of Flitz onto the dabba. Scrub until the blue paste turns black and then begins to rub off. Once the stains lighten, rinse with warm water and dish soap to ensure the acid doesn’t continue to eat at the metal.
Cleaning with Flour & Vinegar:
Make a paste of flour and white vinegar (no special ratio, you're just creating a carrier paste for the acid which helps remove the tarnish). Scrub the paste onto the dabba with a soft brush. Rinse the dabba in warm water. You may have to repeat this process for tougher stains.
To finish, dry your dabba with a dish towel. Rub your dabba with a small amount of coconut oil which will seal it and help prevent future stains, given that brass is a porous metal. Wipe off any residual oil with a soft towel for a smooth shine!
Check out our care and cleaning video here!