Brass, copper and kansa, answered
What buyers ask us most: ordering wholesale from Mumbai, the three metals, cooking and kalai, care, and which vessel suits which job.
01Buying and ordering
Prices, codes, invoices and delivery, whether you are buying for a shop, a kitchen, an occasion or your home.
Who is Hastimal Valchand LLP?
Hastimal Valchand LLP is a Mumbai family business in brass, copper and kansa utensils. It was founded in 1963 as Hastimal Valchand & Co., and trades today from Thakurdwar Road, Mumbai 400002.
Are you a manufacturer or a wholesaler?
Both. We manufacture in our own facility, with specialist partners, and with traditional artisans for hand-shaping, hammering and finishing. We sell to the trade and to homes. Brass, copper and kansa pieces can go on one quotation.
Do you sell brass, copper and kansa utensils wholesale?
Yes. Wholesalers, distributors, retailers, hotels, caterers and institutions order from us, from single shops to large buyers. Add products and sizes to your enquiry list and send it with your quantities. We reply with availability and a quotation.
Can I buy a single piece for my home?
Yes. Send the codes and how many you need, even if it is one piece. We reply with the price and how it reaches you. The pieces most homes ask for are on one page.
What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
For most pieces there is none: you can ask for a single piece. Some items, sizes or finishes carry a minimum, and the quotation states it for each line. Send the codes and the quantities you have in mind, small or large.
How do I get a price or a quotation?
Send us a list of product codes, sizes and quantities. Prices are not published, because metal rates, weights and quantities all change them. Send the list by the enquiry form, WhatsApp or phone. Every line carries its code, so the quotation matches exactly what you asked for.
Can I order or reorder by product code?
Yes. Every product has a code, such as HV239, and every size has its own code. Paste one code and quantity per line, such as “HV239 200 pcs”, into your enquiry list. To reorder, send the same codes as your last order.
Are utensils priced by weight or by piece?
Both are used. Plain vessels are often priced by weight; finished, decorated and small pieces by the piece. Your quotation states the basis for each line.
What is the price per kg of brass, copper and kansa utensils today?
We don’t publish a rate per kg, because the prices of copper, zinc and tin move with the metal market. Send the codes and quantities, and we quote on the day of your enquiry. A rate per kg only compares fairly at the same weight, thickness and finish.
Why do prices for the same utensil differ so much between sellers?
Mostly because of weight: utensils are priced mainly by the metal they contain. A thinner piece of the same size uses less metal and costs less. Hammering, etching and polishing add to the price of finished pieces. Ask for the weight of each size and compare the price per kg.
Do you provide a GST invoice for trade orders?
The quotation sets out the taxes and invoicing for your order, line by line. Send your business name, billing address and GSTIN with the enquiry. The order confirmation then states how the invoice will be made out. For a question about an invoice you already have, write to billing@hvmumbai.com.
What is the HSN code for brass and copper utensils?
Table, kitchen and household articles of copper and copper alloys fall under HSN heading 7418. Common codes are 7418 10 21 for brass utensils and 7418 10 22 for copper utensils. Spoons and ladles fall under heading 8215 instead. GST rates change, so check the current rate on your quotation and with your tax adviser.
Can I get samples before placing a bulk order?
It depends on the product and the size of the order you are planning. Tell us the codes, the quantity you expect to order and your city. The quotation states whether a sample can be sent, and on what terms.
Can you make custom sizes, weights or designs?
Yes, where the product allows it: our own facility, partners and artisans can work to a specification. Send a drawing, a photograph or a sample, with the metal and the quantity. We tell you what can be made, in what finish, and quote for it.
Can you engrave or emboss a company logo or name?
It depends on the product, its surface and the quantity. Send your logo file, the products, the quantities and where the mark should sit. The quotation confirms whether it can be engraved, etched or embossed, and what it adds to the price.
Do you take bulk orders for corporate gifts, Diwali, Dhanteras and weddings?
Yes. Copper bottles, jug and glass sets, kansa thali sets, masala boxes and dry fruit boxes are common choices. Mention any logo or gift box at the start, because both affect the price and the date.
How are orders packed? Can you supply gift boxes?
Packing depends on the product and the order. Kansa needs the most protection, because a hard knock can crack it. Tell us whether pieces must arrive bulk-packed, retail-ready or in gift boxes. The quotation confirms the packing and its cost.
How long does a bulk order take to dispatch?
It depends on stock, the sizes and quantities, and any custom work, finishing or branding. Give the date you need the goods with your enquiry. The quotation confirms the dispatch date.
Do you deliver across India? Do you export?
Our customers are in more than 20 states and 300 cities across India. Freight depends on the weight, the packing and the destination. Give your delivery city, or your country for an overseas order, with the enquiry. The quotation confirms how the goods travel and what freight costs.
What are your payment terms?
Payment terms are set per order and stated in the quotation and the order confirmation. Those two documents bind an order; the website and an enquiry do not. Mention any terms your business needs when you enquire. For payments and invoices, write to billing@hvmumbai.com.
I have already ordered. Who do I contact about dispatch or delivery?
Write to customercare@hvmumbai.com with your order or invoice number, or call or WhatsApp the shop. We will answer with the latest on your order.
Something arrived damaged, short or wrong. What should I do?
Write to returns@hvmumbai.com as soon as you open the delivery. Include your order or invoice number, photographs of the goods and the packing, and what is wrong. What happens next, a replacement, a refund or a return, follows the terms of your order.
I am buying for my home. Can I cancel, return or get a refund?
The quotation and order confirmation for your order set out cancellation, returns, replacements and refunds, and who pays freight. Read them before you accept, and ask us about any line you are unsure of. Report damage or a wrong piece to returns@hvmumbai.com as soon as you open the parcel. Nothing in our terms takes away your rights under consumer law.
Where is your shop, and when is it open?
We are at 3/N, 85/87 Jawahar Mansion, Dr Babasaheb Jaykar Marg, Thakurdwar Road, Mumbai 400002. The shop is open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm. You are welcome to visit in those hours; call or WhatsApp first with the codes you want to see. The contact page has the map, phone, WhatsApp and email.
Where is the brass utensils wholesale market in Mumbai?
Bhuleshwar and Kalbadevi in South Mumbai are known today for utensil wholesale shops. We are close by, at Jawahar Mansion, Thakurdwar Road, Mumbai 400002. Buyers who cannot visit can send codes and quantities from anywhere in India.
02The metals
What brass, copper and kansa are, how they differ, and how to tell real metal from plated.
What is brass (pital) made of?
Brass, called pital or peetal in Hindi, is an alloy of copper and zinc. Utensil brass is typically about 60–70% copper and 30–40% zinc. The zinc turns copper’s red to brass’s yellow-gold.
What is kansa? Is kansa the same as bronze?
Yes: kansa (also kansya or kasa) is bell metal, a bronze of copper and tin. Traditional Indian kansa is commonly given as about 78% copper and 22% tin, though makers vary it. So kansa is a bronze, but not every bronze is kansa.
What is copper (tamba) used for in utensils?
Copper, tamba or tamra in Hindi, is a pure metal, not an alloy. It conducts heat about three to four times better than brass, so copper cookware heats evenly. It is also the traditional metal for water bottles, jugs, lotas and glasses.
What is the difference between brass, copper and bronze (kansa)?
Copper is the pure metal; brass is copper with zinc; kansa is copper with tin. Copper is reddish, brass is yellow-gold, and kansa is a paler gold that rings when struck. Kansa is hard but brittle, so a hard drop can crack it.
Brass, copper or kansa: which is best for utensils?
Choose by use, not by metal. Copper suits water vessels and even heating; tin-lined (kalai) brass or copper suits cooking. Kansa suits serving and eating: thalis, wati bowls and glasses. None of the three works on induction without a magnetic base.
Kansa or stainless steel: which is better for daily thalis?
Stainless steel is the practical choice for heavy daily use and the dishwasher. Kansa is the traditional choice for the table: heavier, warmer in colour, and washed by hand. As a high-tin bronze, kansa can crack if dropped on stone, where steel would dent. Many kitchens cook in steel and serve on kansa.
How can I check if brass, copper or kansa is real?
Start with a magnet: brass, copper and kansa are not magnetic, so a strong pull suggests plated steel. A light scratch on a hidden spot that shows grey or silver also suggests plating. Solid metal feels heavy for its size, and kansa rings long and clear. Only a laboratory test, such as XRF, confirms the exact composition.
Are your products pure copper, real brass and real kansa?
Yes. We ensure the purity of every piece we supply: solid brass, pure copper and genuine kansa, never plated steel or a mixed metal passed off as one of them. Each product page names its metal. If your order also needs a laboratory test report, say so in the enquiry.
Do your utensils carry a BIS (ISI) mark or a certificate?
Ask for the document your order needs, product by product. If you need a BIS mark, a laboratory test report or another certificate, name it in your enquiry with the codes. The quotation confirms which documents can be supplied for each line.
Are your pieces lacquered against tarnish?
Ask with your enquiry: the quotation confirms, line by line, whether a piece is lacquered or left bare. Lacquer is a clear coat on the outside that slows tarnish. Clean a lacquered piece with mild soap and a soft cloth only, because polish and acids strip the coat. A surface that touches food or water should be bare metal or tin-lined, never lacquered.
Does brass contain lead? Is your brass lead-free?
Some brass alloys contain a little lead, mostly those made for plumbing and machining. We ensure the purity of the metal in every piece we supply for the kitchen and the table. Brass and copper cooking surfaces are still tin-lined (kalai), the traditional practice for cooking. If you need a test report on paper, ask for it with your enquiry.
Will every piece look and weigh exactly the same?
No. Pieces shaped, hammered or finished by hand vary slightly in finish and weight. For bulk orders, ask for the weight and dimensions of each size. Your listings, invoices and checks on arrival can then use the same figures.
Is brass magnetic? Do brass and copper rust?
No to both. Brass, copper and kansa are not magnetic, and they do not rust as iron does. They tarnish instead: air and moisture darken the surface, and the darkening cleans off.
Why do brass and copper turn black or green? Is it harmful?
Black or brown is ordinary tarnish from air and moisture, and it cleans off. Green is verdigris, a copper salt formed by moisture or acids. Clean verdigris off completely before the vessel touches food. On decorative pieces, many owners keep the darker patina.
03Cooking, water and food safety
How to use each metal with food and water. General guidance with its sources, not medical advice.
Is brass or copper safe for cooking?
Yes, when the cooking surface is lined with tin (kalai). Unlined brass and copper react with food, especially sour food. India’s FSSAI Packaging Regulations, 2018 treat copper and brass containers not properly tinned as unfit for food.
What is kalai (tin lining), and why is it needed?
Kalai is a thin layer of pure tin wiped over the inside of brass and copper vessels. It keeps food from touching the brass or copper directly. A tinsmith heats the vessel and rubs molten tin over the surface. The lining wears with use and is renewed periodically.
Are your brass and copper cooking vessels supplied tin-lined (kalai)?
Say in your enquiry which cooking vessels you need tin-lined. The quotation confirms which items come tinned and which come plain. Never cook in an untinned brass or copper vessel.
Which foods should not be cooked or stored in brass or copper?
Keep sour food out of unlined brass and copper: tomato, tamarind, lemon, vinegar, curd, buttermilk and pickles. Acid draws copper and zinc from the metal into the food. The US FDA Food Code bars copper from contact with food more acidic than pH 6. Cook in tin-lined vessels, and store food in steel, glass or ceramic.
Can copper serveware be used for acidic dishes or cocktails?
Only if the surface that touches the food or drink is lined. The US FDA Food Code bars unlined copper from contact with foods below pH 6. That includes tomato gravies, lime drinks and most cocktails. Serve these from lined pieces, and keep unlined copper for water and dry food.
Is kansa safe for food? Does kansa need kalai?
Kansa is widely used without a tin lining for serving and eating: thalis, bowls and glasses. Sources disagree on cooking in kansa and on storing sour food in it. The common advice is to use kansa mainly for serving and eating. Don’t leave sour food standing in it for long.
Is it good to drink water from a copper bottle?
Storing drinking water in copper is a long Indian tradition. In a 2012 laboratory study (Sudha et al.), water kept overnight in copper pots lost the bacteria added to it. Copper in that water stayed within World Health Organization limits. Use plain room-temperature water only; this is general information, not medical advice.
How long should water be kept in a copper bottle?
Overnight: fill it at night and drink the water the next morning. Empty and refill it with fresh water every day rather than topping it up. Clean the inside every week or two with lemon juice and salt.
Can I put hot water, lemon water or juice in a copper bottle?
No. Heat and acid both increase how much copper dissolves into the drink. The US FDA Food Code bars copper from contact with foods below pH 6, and lemon water is well below that. Keep copper bottles for plain water at room temperature.
Do brass, copper and kansa work on induction?
Not on their own. Induction needs a magnetic base, and brass, copper and kansa are not magnetic. Use them on gas, or on induction with an induction plate (converter disc) underneath.
Can brass, copper or kansa go in a dishwasher or microwave?
No to both. Dishwasher detergent and heat dull the metal and wear away the tin lining. No metal vessel should go in a microwave. Wash by hand with mild soap and dry straight away.
What does Ayurveda say about copper, brass and kansa?
Ayurveda traditionally recommends storing water in copper and eating from kansa, the bell metal. Brass has long been used in Indian kitchens and rituals. These are traditional beliefs, not clinical evidence. For any health question, consult a doctor.
04Cleaning, care and re-tinning
How to keep brass, copper and kansa clean, bright and safe to use.
How do I clean brass utensils (pital ke bartan)?
Rub the outside with tamarind pulp, lemon and salt, or a paste of vinegar, salt and flour. A traditional powder such as pitambari also works. Rinse well and dry completely, so no water spots form. Never scour a tin-lined inside with acid or abrasives.
How do I clean copper utensils (tambe ke bartan)?
Wash with mild soap and water, then dry at once. To bring back the shine, rub the outside with lemon and salt, or a vinegar and salt paste. Rinse well and buff dry with a soft cloth. Keep acids off any tin-lined cooking surface.
How do I clean a copper bottle from inside?
Shake lemon juice and a spoon of salt inside, or vinegar and salt, for a minute. Rinse thoroughly with plain water, then let it dry with the cap off. Do this before first use, then every week or two.
How do I clean a kansa thali (kansa ke bartan)?
Wash with mild soap and water and dry at once with a cloth. To restore the shine, rub with tamarind, lemon and salt, or a fine ash-based cleaner, then rinse and dry. Avoid steel scrubbers, which scratch the surface.
Why does a copper bottle turn black inside? Is it still safe?
A black or brown film inside is ordinary oxidation, not proof that the copper is fake. Clean it with lemon juice and salt, rinse well and dry with the cap off. Green verdigris is different: clean it off completely before drinking from the bottle. Plated bottles show grey or silver under a scratch, and a magnet sticks to plated steel.
Why did my kansa glass or bowl crack?
Kansa is a high-tin bronze: hard, but less tough than steel or brass. A drop onto stone or tile can crack it where steel would only dent. A crack after a fall is not by itself a sign of fake kansa. Handle and stack it like fine tableware.
How often does kalai need redoing, and where can I get it done?
Periodically, depending on how often the vessel is used for cooking. Re-tin it sooner if brass or copper shows through the silver lining. The work is done by kalaiwalas, traditional tinsmiths; ask at a utensil market for one nearby. If you need cooking vessels supplied tinned, say so in your enquiry.
How should brass and copper be stored so they don’t tarnish?
Dry them completely, then store them away from moisture. Wrap them in cloth or keep them in a closed cupboard. A quick wipe after use and an occasional light clean prevent heavy tarnish.
05Vessels and their uses
Which vessel does which job, in kitchens, service, pooja and gifting.
Which brass and copper vessels do hotels, restaurants and caterers buy?
For the kitchen: topes (patilas), degs and degchis, lagans, tasla kadhais, parats, rice handis and tawas. For service: glasses, jugs, thalis, wati bowls, serving spoons, coffee filters and samovars. Each has its sizes and codes on the HoReCa page.
How do I compare the thickness (gauge) of vessels between suppliers?
Compare weight at the same size: for one metal and size, the heavier vessel has the thicker wall. A thicker wall takes daily heat, scrubbing and knocks better. Ask every supplier for the weight of each size.
What is a parat (paraat) used for?
A parat is a large, round metal dish with a raised rim, used for kneading atta (dough). Kitchens and caterers also use it to prepare and serve food in quantity. We list parats in brass and copper, in several sizes.
What are a handi, a degchi and a tope (patila)?
A handi is a round-bellied pot for rice, curries and biryani. A deg is a large cooking pot and a degchi a smaller one, often used for dum biryani. A tope or patila is a wide-mouthed pot for boiling, rice and dal. In brass or copper, each should be tin-lined for cooking.
What are a lagan, a tasla and a handa?
A lagan is a wide brass or copper pan, also used as a kneading trough. A tasla is a wide, basin-shaped vessel for kneading dough or cooking. A handa is a wide-mouthed water pot, a Marathi name. Names vary by region, so search by name or code, or send a photo with your enquiry.
Which brass and copper items are used for pooja and weddings?
The lota, the kalash or kalsi, the pooja thali and the bell are the everyday pieces. For weddings, families also buy kalsa sets, large thalis and vessels for the ceremony. Brass and copper have long been the metals of Indian ritual.
What are good brass and copper return gifts for weddings, poojas and housewarmings?
Do you have copper bottles, jugs and glasses for hotels and events?
Yes. The drinkware range lists copper bottles, jugs and glasses, brass and kansa glasses, and jug and glass sets. Each size has its own code. Send the codes and quantities for a quotation.
What do size numbers such as 10, 24 No or 16-24 mean?
They are size names used in the trade and in our catalogue, not measurements in inches or litres. A range such as 16-24 is listed as one line in the catalogue. For the diameter, capacity or weight of any size, use “Ask for dimensions” on the product page, or list the size numbers in your enquiry.
How do I choose vessel sizes for a hotel, restaurant or catering kitchen?
Tell us what you cook, for how many covers or guests, and on what burners. We suggest the size codes for each vessel and quote for them. Kitchens usually buy a run of graded sizes, so list your dishes and batch sizes, not just the vessel name.
What sizes do your products come in, and can I get the weights?
Many products come in several sizes, and each size has its own code on the product page. For exact dimensions, capacity or weight, use “Ask for dimensions” on that page. We send the figures for the sizes you ask about.