Review: Pretty Tiffin Homeware

Gifted items.

I absolutely adore folky prints and motifs of any kind, but the more colourful the better. Maybe it’s my Hungarian heritage, our traditional motifs are quite rich in colourful flowers. Or maybe the maximalist in me, but I just adore pretty enamel with colourful designs.

I teamed up for this great giveaway with Pretty Tiffin for this fantastic giveaway. Let me introduce you to the brand.

About Pretty Tiffin

Pretty Tiffin is a family business, they started two years ago and they produce and commission highly practical, plastic free hand painted compartment lunch boxes as a sustainable, lunch boxes, spice containers, jugs, tumblers, salad bowls, trays and more made from stainless steel and hand painted by craft men. They are hardwearing and absolutely stunning using folk motifs and heritage designs.

Ethical production

The artisan items are produced in North India by 200 years manufacturer, an old family business. The manufacturer has an open door policy to staff welfare, pay and labour conditions. For the small team of artists employed, minimum wage guidelines are met and medical expenses covered. Additionally, education expenses are covered for two children per artist family. Overtime is paid at 2.5 times above the usual salary. Pretty Tiffin is a fair trade business paying what the producers are setting for their artisan items.

Pretty Tiffin donates 50p from every single order to the Blood Cancer UK.

What is enamel?

The enamel fascinating art form that has been practiced for centuries, primarily in jewelry-making and decorative arts. It is brought to life by fusing powdered glass onto a substrate through the application of heat. When heated, the glass melts and flows, creating a smooth and shiny surface that is durable.

At its core, the process begins with the preparation of the metal base, often copper, silver, or gold, which serves as the base for the enamel. The artist starts by cleaning the metal to ensure proper adhesion. Once the surface is ready, a fine powder of colored glass is applied, either by dusting or painting it on. This is where creativity takes flight; artists can create their own designs and patterns. After the application of the enamel, the piece is fired in a kiln at a high temperature, usually between 1400°F to 1600°F (760°C to 870°C). This step is very important, as the heat allows the glass particles to fuse, leading to a shiny, glossy finish. The firing time can vary depending on the type of enamel and desired effect, it can last from a few minutes to several hours. Once cooled, additional layers of enamel can be added through a process known as cloisonné or champlevé, where compartments are created for different colors of enamel. 

Do enamel dishes contain lead?

Not today – however, vintage enamel can contain lead. This is because historically, lead was used in some enamel, but modern regulations have changed its manufacturing, so newly produced enamel does not contain lead.

Are enamel dishes safe to eat from?

Enamel cookware is non-reactive, meaning it won’t transfer metallic flavors or odors to your food, so yes, but… only high-quality vitreous enamel is safe to eat from because it consists of an inert, non-porous glass layer fused to metal that does not react with acidic foods or leach chemicals.

Safety regulations of enamel

You can read about the current safety regulations of enamel here, produced by the European Enamel Association.

Can I put enamel in the dishwasher?

NO. Enamel is not dishwasher safe. You need NOT to put them in the dishwasher as I did previously, so I have learnt this the hard way. It gets chipped very easily because the dishwasher water is too hot for enamel. So the best way is had washing them.