Kansa Kitchenware – Bringing Heritage to your table

“Kansa is rooted in Indian cultural heritage - Brings balance to your kitchen and well-being to your body”

Introduction

Kansa is an alloy made of a combination of Copper (78%) & Tin (22%), commonly known as Bronze. According to Ayurveda, Kansa offers numerous health benefits when used in cooking and serving food, resulting in improved digestion and balancing of doshas. Kansa has been an integral part of Indian heritage and culture, valued for its healing properties and purity. Kansa was used in religious ceremonies, such as Weddings and Havan, as it is a symbol of auspiciousness. People nowadays are trying to reconnect with their roots and focus on holistic living, which has enhanced the popularity of Kansa. Due to its adaptive nature, Kansa has been used to create handcrafted kitchenware that seamlessly blends into today’s modern lifestyle.

History and Cultural Significance

Kansa was the very first alloy discovered and used by the Harappans during the Bronze Age, approximately 5000 years ago. The Bronze Age saw a revival of Ayurveda and its ancient wisdom of healing. Ayurveda is the science of healing using metal, which has been practised in the East for a long time. Kansa is a strong metal that has been used to make tools, kitchenware, sacred statues, armour, weapons, bells, and gongs.

Around 1200 BC, Kansa was used to create sculptures and Statues by the Greek civilisation due to its high durability. By 1000 BC, Kansa (Bronze) was used in various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and Africa. By 500 BC, Kansa was used to make weapons and tools. So, Kansa revolutionised the traditional world, but now it has become a popular choice in modern kitchens.

Unique properties of Kansa

• Anti-microbial – Kansa consists of copper, so it has anti-microbial properties which prevent pathogens and bacteria in the food and maintain hygiene in food. 
• Alkalizing & purifying – Kansa alkalize food and purifies it, which helps in improving gut health. 
• Durable – Kansa is a durable material which makes it resistant to any wear & tear, wrinkles and scratches. Therefore, Kansa can be incorporated into daily routines at home, such as during lunch or dinner. 
• Thermal conductive – Kansa has a heat conductivity property, which distributes heat in an even manner, so it keeps food hot for a long time. 
• Recyclable – Kansa is recyclable, so it can be used to make new products, making it a sustainable material.

Health benefits of Kansa

• Balance Doshas – Kansa has been revered in Ayurveda as it balances different doshas – Vatta, Pitta and Kapha. Kansa has cooling properties that pacify pitta (the fire element) or the fiery nature of the body, thereby reducing symptoms such as anger, acidity, and inflammation. Kansa has a grounding quality that balances Vatta (Air and Ether elements) by calming the nervous system of anxious people. Kansa balances Kapha (Water and Earth elements), so its grounding element stimulates metabolism and circulation. 
• Balance pH level – Kansa has an alkaline nature, which helps in balancing the pH level of the body after consumption of the food. 
• Improve digestion – Kansa promote digestive enzymes production and supports digestive fire, which in turn has a positive impact on the digestion of a person. • Enhanced food flavour – Kansa helps in enhancing food flavour, which brings out the natural taste of the ingredients used in preparing food, making dinner enjoyable. 
• Detoxification – When food is eaten in Kansa thali, people consume some traces of metal, which helps in detoxification of the body. It helps cleanse the body of toxins and heavy metals.

Care and maintenance

• Regular cleaning – Kansa utensils should be cleaned with warm water and mild soap. After that, it is dried using a soft cloth to avoid scratches.
• Tarnishing – Kansa can tarnish with time, so proper maintenance is important. To clean and prevent tarnish, prepare a paste of vinegar, salt, and flour and gently apply it to the product.
• Avoid abrasives – Don’t use harsh scrubbers on the product to avoid any scratches.
• Storage – Avoid stacking the products while storing them. It is better to store them separately using a soft cloth to protect the surface. 
• Acidic Food – Avoid storing acidic food for long periods in Kansa products, as it could cause a chemical reaction that may result in the leaching of metal into food.

Modern revival and global appeal

As people are reconnecting with their past, it has led to an enhanced global appeal of Kansa. The increase in demand for Ayurveda has brought attention to the therapeutic and dosha-balancing properties of Kansa. Kansa is a durable and sustainable product which aligns with the minimalistic living concept, making it a mindful choice for customers. Holistic practitioners and wellness influencers are bringing attention to Kansa through the self-care trend on social media. Kansa is made readily available to the world through the expansion of e-commerce platforms.

Natriel Kansa product range

Kansa has been used in Kitchens ever since the Bronze Age, but its use declined during the Vedic period. Recently, it was revived due to its distinct properties and sophisticated appearance. Kansa is non-toxic and has high corrosion resistance properties, which makes it ideal for kitchen utensils. Kansa is used to make various kitchen utensils, including Kansa Plates, Kansa bowls, Kansa Donga, Kansa Handi, Kansa Ladles, Kansa spoons, Kansa glasses, Kansa thali sets, and Kansa dinner sets.

• Thali set – Natriel has an exclusive thali set, which is used for dinning. Natriel has two thali sets – Round and Belgian. It consists of a large thali, three Katori/Bowls, a Spoon, and a Glass. Kansa thali plates are durable and lightweight, adding elegance to your dining table. This Kansa Thali set has 3 Katori’s, which can be used to serve Daal, Sabji, Raita, Dessert, Salad, and Sweets.
• Donga – Natriel offers a Flat serving bowl - Kansa Donga, which is smaller than Handi. It can be used to serve dishes during dinner.
• Handi–Natriel has a Deep serving bowl, popularly known as Handi, which comes with a Lid and a Ladle. It can be used to serve food such as Biryani, Khichdi, Daal and Pulao during dinner.
• Full dining set – Kansa has a complete dining set with two thali sets, with a Donag and a Handi. This set consists of two thalis, one handi, one donga, two glasses, two spoons, four round bowls, and two flat bowls. This set could elevate your dining table during the festive season.

Kansa is popularly used for serving hot food as it keeps the food warm for a long time. These Kansa products are exquisitely handcrafted by skilled artisans, giving them a regal look. Kansa’s medicinal and healing properties make it an ideal choice for eating food for holistic health.

Explore the Natriel Full Kansa range here.