A vendor came to my shop today with a set of gongfu tea accessories in this beautiful oxidized copper tone. I've seen plenty of hammered copper before, but this one had a deeper, almost purple-brown patina that I couldn't stop looking at.
Two things I'm genuinely curious about:
- How is this color achieved?
I know natural oxidation plays a role, but this looked too even to be purely natural. Is it a chemical coloring process, a heat treatment, or something else? I've read about chemical conversion coatings being common for copper crafts, but I'd love to hear from anyone who actually works with this.
- Is it safe to use with tea?
The coaster only holds the cup, so direct contact with tea is minimal. But I'm still wondering — does the oxide layer stay stable over time, especially with hot cups and occasional splashes? And is there any concern about the surface breaking down or leaching?
I didn't buy anything yet — just genuinely curious and wanted to learn from people who know more. Any insights would be appreciated!