Can India’s 5,000-Year-Old Disposable Clay Tea Cups Compete With Single-Use Plastic?

[@millerkriese3064]

Hipster coffee shops in the west would go crazy for these

[@milianozuniga-deanda4955]

When going to tea and Indian restaurants we needa start asking and they'll begin to take interest, then it grows.

[@foxopossum]

No joke

[@TheDigitalslayer]

I bet they would. No sarcasm, them hipster hype people really pick very niche cultural specific items like this up.

[@Dynamic0NE]

You do understand that these are even WORSE for the environment then plastic cups 😂. The amount of burning of material that sends carbon monoxide into the atmosphere destroying our O zone and hurting the air we breath is astronomical.........NOTHING THATS DRUNK OR EATEN SHOULD BE SINGLE USE.

[@danikai2562]

@@Dynamic0NEbro, wake up man, quit drinking the koolaid. They been lying to you this whole time. You seriously think these cups are bad for the environment? Give me a break.

[@jarooosa]

I had tea in one of these cups on the banks of the Ganges. Instead of throwing it away I took it all the way back home to Australia, it is my prized possession from the trip.

[@_Parmatma_]

It is still intact ? Without breaking ?

[@jarooosa]

@@_Parmatma_ Yes, packed it very carefully and it survived!

[@DarshanMRaikar]

Yo mate 😮

[@DarshanMRaikar]

Just clean it and drink cup of tea ☕ then you can remember holy place of Varanasi 😊

[@aclass8356]

@@DarshanMRaikar kolkata

[@TessJordan-lp5sc]

Fired clay isn't a problem to dispose. It's more or less a metamorphic rock. It doesn't leach anything toxic, it doesn't ruin the environment, it's just like gravel. If anything, it could be set aside to make crushed gravel for pathways. No, they could not be refired and used again. This clay isn't glazed, and not fired to the point of being vitrified (if it were, it could just be washed for reuse) so it will absorb some moisture, and if it isn't 100% dry in the refire it will explode in the kiln. In general, it isn't an environmental threat. You could even use it to stabilize river banks or use them crushed up to make aggregate for concrete. You could dump them all in the ocean and all they would do is help build a coral reef with no toxic issues.

[@DrTheRich]

It's only not ruining the environment if the are crushed. If people throw them in nature whole, it's still ugly trash. Just a little less ugly than a plastic cup. Human made trash makes nature ugly, doesn't matter if it's clay or plastic or metal.

[@SeattlePioneer]

> Oh, I would bet that any environmentalist worth his salt could find NUMEROUS environmental issues to condemn such products. That's what environmentalists DO. Crab, condemn and complain.

[@laurenm9203]

Environmentalist here, and I agree about putting it in the ocean. I would of course do research about it first, but it seems fine. We complain about things that are worth complaining about. That’s all. :)

[@jimmurphy5355]

How do we know there isn't any arsenic, lead, cadmium or other toxin in the clay? Has anyone ever tested the cups of clay to see?

[@Nemo222]

Similar to glass, Sure throwing out glass isn't great, mostly because of the energy cost to make glass that's wasted, but as far as long term environmental impacts, there's basically none.

[@unclepodger]

As long as the chai culture of India remains, these will not die out. No tea tastes better than the one your sip out of a bhaar off the humble street tea shop.

[@farazahmed2204]

We chai lovers will make these Kulhads endure the onslaught of plastic waste.

[@whightspace]

It’s not about whether we demand a bharh, it’s about the cost of raw material to make it which is rising, the amount of effort it takes to make these versus the little margin these craftsmen make given a cap on the price of these bharhs.

[@aryaka_run]

manufacturer ko support chaiye. you can clearly. this may go obsolete soon.

[@liamg1995]

Potter here- you could collect the used kulhads and refire them in the kiln. That would completely resterilize them and make them like new. Sure some break along the way but most woukd survive. That way they would have to make fewer of them and save money on clay.

[@Trixtah]

I think this is the best suggestion here yet. Sure, more effort for pickup - but that could be done during drop-off. A lot less labour than breaking in 100% new clay and a lot less firing time for the reused cups. Even being able to refire 30% of the cups just once could quite possibly make it worthwhile. Even with the day or two delay waiting for the used cups to dry out - there would be time needed for stacking and storage space, but long boards on simple shelf supports would do.

[@daakuredpanda5782]

Such a beautiful idea! Sometimes I feel some west people are so smart! But like do you know there is like Bronze age etiquette that still remains prevelent, knowingly or unknowingly in India. Brass/Bronze utensils need to be washed with ash and re-used while kullad(rough earth) should be discarded after single use. Not like people follow it religiously but it's just a part of the culture. I don't think kullad is going away and we would surely figure something out. India has preserved a lot of stuff even under destructions and invasions for thousands of years.

[@wantin42]

@@daakuredpanda5782 Is it because of the tradition, that just washing them is not an option, or are there additional practical reasons? Maybe the taste of the fire/ash not being present or something alike?

[@griffinmccue6189]

Exactly. In America, we market kulhads in a manner that DIScourages their disposal.

[@daakuredpanda5782]

@@wantin42 Mostly tradition. But traditions do have reasons. Kullad is just filtered fired earth. It's porus. I guess must be difficult to clean by washing especially without chemicals. The re-firing suggestion of the OP does seem promising.

[@HauteHorizon]

As someone who loves ceramics, I'm impressed by the pottery wheel skills.

[@elbertmoreno2159]

Do you grow aloe for a living?

[@HauteHorizon]

​@@elbertmoreno2159 Not necessarily. I just like having plants.

[@SeattlePioneer]

[@HauteHorizon]

@@SeattlePioneer Neither did I.

[@raisin8051]

Me too, I don't do any ceramic work but that guy just made a cup in like 5 motions. The last 3 motions were quick but he pinched and curled it at once as well as cut it off. I wish we had that stuff here, tho I could see the hardened ceramics causing more issues if they're not properly disposed of

[@milianozuniga-deanda4955]

You can see the emotion and sinciery in his eyes. I love Indian culture, how can you NOT drink in a Kulhad!?

[@YessEthan]

India is poor country sorry to say... Price matter a lot a cent of increase ppl stop using it... 😢... Either government increase demand and help them or the market will die 😢😢...

[@randomlyswatching]

@@YessEthan They are not THAT costly.

[@randomlyswatching]

@@YessEthan many poorer lands keep culture alive ...u shud 2

[@skullemoji129]

@@YessEthan its literally cheaper my guy u are NOT indian

[@franciasii2435]

India is really a world of its own. A world within another world. I'm contuinuously perplexed in in awe of their society and culture. One day, i will take a 2 year holiday to see all of it, but I'm afraid, that even then, I will still have not allocated enough time to see it :( Blessings from NZ 🇳🇿❤️

[@schyracollbrande1900]

Please don't let this teacup die.

[@MAC06141]

Yes it’s a shame…..but it’s not up to us…..sad ❤

[@impostrous]

Please don't any of India's unique customs be forgotten

[@milianozuniga-deanda4955]

When going to tea and Indian restaurants we needa start asking and they'll begin to take interest and it grows

[@montyvr6772]

This is disgustingly wasteful

[@isatq2133]

Start doing it here in the US! Hippies would love these! Id love them!

[@justenjoy1177]

As a Indian I can say that this industry will never come to an end, Kulhad are too much in demand infact we pay extra for kulhad

[@maskcollector6949]

If as another has pointed out that people are afraid of drinking from cups of the lower caste then that is kind of a disgusting reason for this practice. It’s a symbol of pride and bigotry in that context.

[@sriramraghavanonGoogle]

@@maskcollector6949 : Lol. So fake. Propagandists like injecting a caste angle into everything Indian.

[@WishHarbingerGaming]

​@@maskcollector6949 hearing about this first time

[@philipwalsh28]

Terrific piece of reporting, thank you. I used these cups during a trip to India in 2005. They do flavor the tea, slightly, and I regret not keeping one as a memorial to India's immutable history. Instead they went in the bin, like so much else.

[@ramg658]

Come again ,,to see changed india after 19 yrs

[@jztouch]

He was brimming over with pride at the beginning talking about how many cups they’ve made over the years. It’s heartwarming. I was in India last year and was so surprised to see these one time use clay cups in use everywhere. India is an endlessly fascinating place and I can’t wait to go back!

[@deadpoolwhoslaysassholes1586]

❤

[@singhrajput6949]

Where are you from?

[@lilbitscandalus]

Indian culture and craftsmanship is very underrated and unappreciated

[@tm92211]

Here in Kolkata, clay pots of multiple sizes are used to serve a host of other items for takeaways, such as sweets like roshogollas, curd, the potato curry accompanying flatbreads called kochuris, etc. Sadly, all of these are being replaced of late by cheaper plastic alternatives. As customers, the onus is on us to let the sellers know our preferences so that the healthier, traditional bhaars are allowed to thrive.

[@earth2k66]

Bengali here as well. Tea doesn't taste good until you sip from these clay cups (bhar) 😋👌

[@sourabhkarmakar8040]

Don't forget mishti doi

[@abhinavm1995]

what is roshogolla

[@dylaninnes8541]

Yes thank you we as consumers dictate/vote Every time we make a purchase

[@ivannaharmoni]

​@@abhinavm1995An odian sweet Bengalis stole

[@CrowSkeleton]

Someone is missing out on a huge opportunity to recycle these into ceramic gravel/sand and save natural resources (and quarry/factory workers' lungs). Road levelling, filtration, fish tanks, compost moisture retainers, composite wall fill...

[@JabbaSlug]

seems like you could just grind them up and add water to make clay again

[@TNT_FPV]

nah India's roads are fine 😆

[@cmrd_hdcrb]

​@@JabbaSlugThat wouldn't work since they are turned into ceramics by firing. Can't make them soft after that.

[@jrobbin24]

When he said grind them up add water and make clay I assumed he meant as grog to add to a new batch of clay. He absolutely was right

[@AnishRocsta]

Fired clay cannot be turned back into clay. It won’t work.

[@geneard639]

But, simple fired clay IS Recyclable. Collecting the clay tea cups, and bowls and small plates, all that would need to happen would be to crush and sieve the ground fired clay into ...well... grog, and they could add 30% grog to the fresh clay to both extend the amount of fresh clay and toughen the resultant new fired clay.

[@ElectricNed]

Can you repeat this indefinitely?

[@nomms]

​@@ElectricNedonly 30% of clay can be grog, so no. Every time you fire a cup 70% of it needs to be fresh clay

[@ElectricNed]

@nomms Makes sense, my question was whether you can then make grog from the cups that were 30% grog and on and on.

[@fillhixx]

@@ElectricNed Yes. All fired clay can become grog.

[@LucasMakes]

My guess is there's no network to collect the used ones and even if they did the cost to grind them down and reconstitute workable classy would make it impractical. Not impossible, just an added cost, it's a couple more steps when the margins are already tiny.

[@tortoisetraveler5815]

used kulhads can be given to nurseries where they plant only one seed in a small cup. Even they are using plastic tea cups to grow the seed.......

[@essee3984]

The cost of collecting and transporting to nurseries doesn't add up.

[@clausroquefort9545]

@@essee3984 exactly. you can see in the video that shaping the cups takes a miniscule amount of labour. most of it goes into trasporting and firing them. being thick and heavy are bad properties for disposable, low value items.

[@er.analysisfacts2998]

I have seen this on KZbin videos where nurseries owner using it

[@LordThree]

Surprised they lasted this long. I hate plastic

[@Benedict.Lee88]

Wonder what you are using to type your comments on? A glass phone? Wooden computer? Fabric tablet maybe?

[@LordThree]

@ new iPad has shockingly little plastic exposed. And I’m not ingesting the particles

[@Benedict.Lee88]

@@LordThree - right. because little plastic means no plastic and you put your ipad in your mouth.

[@alysalee2000]

⁠@@Benedict.Lee88there are just one stuff that’s unavoidable but little changes can results in big change

[@DarshanMRaikar]

Even in the good old days this was normal this is ancient isn't it

[@Sam-d8o6q]

It actually makes chai taste even better

[@killerdove123]

Absolutely.

[@temptemp4174]

When I was in Pakistan on holiday I had the opportunity to try tea in a clay cup similar to the one in the video.blown away by how much of a difference the cup makes, i wish I had access to clay cups like that for a reasonable price in the west, it would be all I ever drink tea from till the end of days

[@rkang6531]

I was about to type this, Chaa, Dai, Chana Masala, everything tastes better in these, ESPECIALLY chaa and dai

[@Yajna007]

indubitably

[@kouusa]

OP Thank you. I forgot they were drinking chai. Which, I know linguistically is the same thing, but chai feels like it's own thing in my head. Like the other combo that has its own local name in the UK that I can't remember rn. Super strong black tea, lots of sugar, and cream or milk. Worker's something? So when I think tea, I usually think a clear-er type of tea first. (So when I saw them drinking a thicker tea then expected I was confused for a sec. lol. Want to make my poor attempt at chai now. lol)

[@fairyqueen-m7t]

Why throw the clay cups away ? Someone has a good business opportunity hear, If collected for recycling!! Could be reused for seed pots, Could be painted on and sold to toursist!! Could be washed and dried sold to the crafting industry's ect ect It is so sad to see blood swet and tears go in the bin like that. Hey, you could even use them for candle holders! The endless possabiltys hear is mindblowing 😢

[@temptemp4174]

As far as I'm aware people do recycle them, often they crush the cups and use the fired clay to create other items from clay.

[@msquietwoman]

Great ideas! I was wondering why they don't make them a bit more durable and glaze the inside. Even without glazing, it'd be easy to reuse with the proper cleaning technique.

[@thebrowns5337]

​@@msquietwoman people like the apparent flavour profile the unglazed clay gives. Glazing them would stop that.

[@rtg69]

​@@msquietwomanHowever, I've heard that many tea sellers engage in unethical practices by not recycling cups and reusing them to save money. Customers often intentionally break cups to prevent their reuse. In this context, making the cups more durable might not be the best solution.

[@sacarchy]

What a scam you just exposed. ​@@rtg69

[@samyamj6541]

Trust me , taste of tea in kulhad is completely different and tastes so much better than anyother utensils.

[@Ducktility]

I trust you

[@gauravtr7766]

Yes

[@Velylok313]

From Pakistan respect for this man ❤

[@EsoteriaHealing]

I love having tea in kulhad there's a specific taste to it. Nothing will ever beat it. I think we should all move towards more clay utensils instead of plastic.

[@LadyPantera57]

I wish they had separate receptacles for these special little cups. They may not be able to be made into new ones, but maybe they could be used in some other types of art projects or ground up to be used in mortar or something.

[@krisayo]

This clay cups saves many poor lives and save the nation from plastic atleast small percentage

[@thebrowns5337]

True. And every little helps.

[@YessEthan]

Sorry to say but if india stop using plastic...demand will increase and kulhad needs soil.. I don't think will support for next 1 year... Then we will import soil... 😅

[@NN94887]

​@@YessEthan do you think India will runout of soil ????

[@YessEthan]

@@NN94887 u know ppl used stone in foundation earlier now its banned... Ppl thought the same... Evn mountain can't cope 🙃.. Think tomorrow everyone shift to these cups daily demand 10million Just a random figure how much certain type of clay soil will be used than we will import clay 😑

[@maskcollector6949]

With how overpopulated it is it’s not beyond question because clay is not soil, it’s rarer.

[@TDK2K]

each cup selling for half a US penny is unbelievable.

[@BornIn1500]

But overall, the tea and the cup are sold for 6 Rupees, so $0.07. Clearly there isn't any room in that price to pay more for the cup.

[@TDK2K]

@BornIn1500 damn, 6 rupees or 7 cents is so low.

[@archishman4073]

The cup with tea sells for 6 Rupees(7 cents). The tea seller acquires the cups for 0.5 Rupees a piece(1 cent)

[@BornIn1500]

@@archishman4073 less than that . 0.5 Rupees is half a cent. So they get two cups for 1 cent.

[@drinkwoter]

who knew low standards of living can make things cheaper

[@andrewstrongman305]

I think kulhads would be very popular with Australian boutique coffee shops. Marketed correctly, you could charge $1 AUD per cup, particularly if you dyed a logo on their side. Those traditional workshops workshops have to be modernised, and exporting kulhads could provide the funds for that process. For a start, the building would have to be replaced with a modern industrial shed on a concrete slab. Proper extraction fans are obviously needed, as well as PPE for the workers. All working surfaces should be raised to waist-height, and modern kilns introduced. Industrialise those parts of the operation that can be. I'd be surprised if a machine couldn't do most of the work in mixing clay, for example. Also, a simple press could be used to remove excess water from the clay, making the drying process more reliable.

[@skylarmickel]

Such a great alternative to plastic. Anytime you can use something instead of plastic is always good. Personally I think plastic gives your food and drinks a odd flavor. But I guess if you grow up eating on and with plastic you wouldn't even notice.

[@zyxw2000]

Most of us in the West drink our tea from glazed ceramic mugs or cups, not plastic.

[@Patrick-y4d1z]

It is not a great alternative to plastic. That would be a paper cup.

[@skylarmickel]

@@Patrick-y4d1z Would definitely disagree clay, glass, porcelain are all great alternatives to plastic.

[@skylarmickel]

@@zyxw2000 I live in the United States. If you go to any fast food place your drink is served out of a plastic or Styrofoam cup. You go to a restaurant your drink is served in a plastic cup with a soda brand logo on it most of the time. Unless you're going to a pretty upscale restaurant. Most people in the United States drink out of a plastic cup and eat cereal out of a plastic Bowl. Most public schools serve their food on a plastic lunch tray

[@Patrick-y4d1z]

@@skylarmickel In a disposable sense, they're absoluely not. They're fine when made for food standards and for permanent use, not disposable and in some hole in the gound.

[@jimjiminy5836]

When I went to India 25 years ago, everyone was using them. Recently, not so much

[@apanirban14344]

Finally Business Insider comes to Kolkata! There are more traditional industries here that you can cover.

[@sahilmohan7983]

Kullhad is an emotion for us Indians!! It will never cease to exist!! Its a lifeline.

[@s-qc9ns]

I was expecting racizm here. But good to see people actually acknowledge their hard work.

[@shringika8799]

Tea tastes so much better in these than in any other cup.

[@RamonDesantis]

STARBUCKS will Never use these.

[@strivingforsuccess88]

And... remind me again why anyone should care whether they use it or don't? ​@@RamonDesantis

[@deadpoolwhoslaysassholes1586]

@@strivingforsuccess88 cos most of Western world drink Starbucks coffee

[@andrewhooper7603]

@@RamonDesantis starbucks coffee sucks, lmao

[@RamonDesantis]

@ NO it does not suck. You are just too Poor to afford Starbucks. You may Stick with these Indian shithoIe-Mud cups, it’s far more becoming.

[@shakksbbam]

Somewestern company will copy this and say we did ecofriendly cup😂😂😂😂 and will make patent

[@r1a172]

Like leafy plates😂😂

[@SXZ-dev]

Ecofriendly disposable cup you're supposed to throw in the trash after one use? I know people can be pretty gullible but damn

[@Rabina_das08]

Thieves for a reason

[@DemoDeMoth]

its weird to heard that a clay fired cups could be a enviromental hazard, they are literally clay that is hard, they cant not contaminate, dont have any chemical that can leach out and im pretty sure that plants can grow arround and over them with no problem, i really prefer to have a soil with small clay cups than unhinged amounts of microplastics, the only thing that could be considered contamination in them is the firing part, because of the fire itself

[@kendi1417]

🤡

[@DrTheRich]

Having stone in your body is not good. These cups aren't fired and cleaned properly, so bits of debris go in your body with the drink. We've invented the solution to this thousands of years ago. Glazed ceramic. You know what's great about them? you can reuse them!! They don't deposit anything at all.

[@rkang6531]

If anyone ever has the chance to eat or drink out of these please don't miss out on it. Especially on a cold winters day, tea or coffee in a bhand, is pure bliss. The tea stays warm, but your fingers stay cool coz of the clay, and then just as you are about to sip it, the clay edges of the cup ever so slightly cool the tea in your sip while giving you an intoxicating smell of tea and petricor. It has the power to turn even the most heartless person into a hopeless romantic.

[@EcoMouseChannel]

If they were glazed, they could be reusable, as cleaning them would be simpler. Also... Having a dedicated, state sponsored clay cup grinder would go really fast in helping to have the fired clay secondary life. Crushed clay has so many uses. Plus the fine powder can be reused up to 30% content in fresh clay (grog) mixed in, helping to keep fresh clay costs down on the potters.

[@taylorschwartz978]

Unfortunately, it's not as simple as "just glaze the cups". They would have to change their whole production method in order to get a truly reusable, food-safe cup. Clay doesn't vitrify in pit firings and you can't really use glaze. They would have to fire it twice and use a kiln for the second firing in order to get to temperatures high enough. Glazed pieces can't touch so they wouldn't be able to use the concentric stacked method the second firing. Someone would have to stoke the kiln and monitor the temperature the whole time. And so many other variables that go into glazing pottery. It would just be too inefficient and expensive for them to glaze cups that consumers are likely to throw out anyways. I agree with you and I totally get where you're coming from and it would be neat if they could glaze them, but they have a completely different culture and they're just trying to keep a tradition alive while barely being able to stay alive themselves.

[@vmpiben]

In East Asia, cups made from clay are reused again and again. Disposable clay cups is a waste of clay.

[@onlinme7884]

exactly

[@DrTheRich]

Yeah i really don't understand why people are so in favour of disposable stuff. "let's keep supporting this guy's scam business of terrible quality made cups by throwing them away and buying new ones." We should move away from disposable at all, be it clay or plastic cups or iPhones.. Reuse and repair.

[@sanjudas5861]

​​@@DrTheRichIt is a traditional thing in India not to eat/ drink in utensils used by some random unknown people, especially in small joints..

[@trygveskogsholm5963]

@@DrTheRich I must agree. Even if many are broken because they are thin if they were easy to clean (with a glaze) then special bins could be used.

[@rairadiobangla]

Washing is not an option on the streets. So it's disposable clay vs other things.

[@Kraaketaer]

Just to make one thing clear, that the video oddly leaves kind of ambiguous: fired ceramics do not break down into soil. Ever. They are not compostable, they are not biodegradeable - they are chemically changed into a material that will only break down in nature through crushing, friciton, and erosion. (Yes, it can also break down chemically, but the conditions required for that don't really occur in nature.) In that way, they're similar to plastics - but unlike plastics they don't release harmful chemicals during this period, their particulates aren't taken up into surrounding organisms, and they are essentially chemically and biologically inert. I saw suggested here that they could be collected and refired to sterilize them and allow for re-use, and that sounds like an excellent suggestion, even if there would be significant breakage along the way. Even accounting for that, any amount of reuse would be an improvement, especially as clay isn't a renewable resource. If not, I'd say (non-plastic coated) paper is a far better solution, even if it lacks the tradition and ability for small-scale production like this, as paper is both biodegradeable and renewable - but the lack of a plastic coating would be crucial in that case.

[@rahulbanerjee6622]

Did you watch it till the end ? The video does say this. Why do you start lecturing before watching ?

[@Kraaketaer]

@rahulbanerjee6622 Did you read my comment? 'Cause I phrased it specifically in response to the way the video covers this, as the video brings it up, but uses intentionally ambiguous wording about what is very cut-and-dried facts. Things like saying "may never break down" when it *does* never break down, and so on. The way they phrased this made it come off as if there was some kind of nuance or complexity to this specific fact, when there simply isn't. This is textbook bad writing at best, and intentionally misleading at worst.

[@melchiormagni]

Yea but it's essentially irrelevant that they don't biodegrade. They're basically just shaped rocks. Who cares if a rock doesn't degrade? As you said, it's biologically, chemically inert. They aren't toxic, they don't seep micro particles into wild life. They're quite literally just a form of dirt. It's like saying "hey this dirt isn't biodegradable". Yea.. and? It's dirt...

[@Kraaketaer]

@melchiormagni Well, except for the part where producing these keeps producing millions and millions of non-degradeable waste products. Clay is abundant, so it's not like we'll run out any time soon, but this is still producing waste that needs to be handled somehow. Avoiding producing unnecessary landfill is kind of essential, you know?

[@kaptainkaos1202]

I have watched so many videos like this. Poor workers spending their days at labor for money that us Americans consider rounding up errors. Just once I’d like for a channel tell us how we could help them. For instance if there was a way to contact the potter shown in the video, or even a guild/union he belongs to, I’d love to donate to help make his family’s life a bit easier. For the cost of my family going out to dinner a donation would ease their lives for a short time at least. Allow them to get caught up on bills or even school clothes for the children. My life has been blessed and I would jump at the chance to share with someone less fortunate. Oh and I already give plenty to my local community with not just funds but I volunteer 3 times a week working with the homeless.

[@teekamchand801]

beggars literally make thousands a day in the country, don't donate money it will either make them lazy or it will be taken away by someone more influential. I would suggest giving them opportunities like selling abroad. If you truly wish to help someone, give them education or work. All the current problem in U, A have solutions in India, traditional knowledge is simply the solution made by humans of the era, when India was, what USA is now. Natural products, vegan food culture, mental illness cures, you name it. I would suggest anyone from outside to learn it, because traditional knowledge is disappearing much faster than in past due to internet and materialistic lifestyle.

[@pythonantole9892]

@@teekamchand801 How would helping them make them lazy yet the man in the video is already working and making an honest living.

[@tomwelshshore]

If he gets donations he doesn't have to work hard then who will make the cups. No one

[@trashyturtle1666]

@@tomwelshshoreif he can’t make a living, closes up shop and gets a job that pays him, who will make em?

[@stephgreen3070]

@@teekamchand801this man is not a beggar, though. He and his family are killing themselves 13 hours a day to make a meager living. They are hardly begging. And if someone could help and maybe allow them to pay for their children’s schooling, why not?

[@arxsyn]

I'm Chinese. I've seen similar tea cups from my country. Never did l think they are expendable.

[@NathanHassall]

the ones in china are made from fake clay mixed with fake micro plastic 🤣

[@twilight7490]

@@NathanHassall😂😂😂

[@ojasaklecha]

You know what, these things are actually getting revived and coming up in the trend again. We call it ' kullad ' and they are getting famous as a classic kullad chai these days. So, good thing for nature and for the people

[@slizzysluzzer]

Fired ceramics aren't biodegradable. We date archaeological cultures by the pottery they produce because the pottery they produce doesn't biodegrade. There are shipwrecks from 2000 years ago and entire hills made of fired pots and pot sherds that are still intact. Also, the energy costs of firing clay no matter what method you use is significant. This can't be a replacement for single use anything. Ceramics shouldn't be single use. They should be used and reused and cared for.

[@ravi.k.t]

And the Clay is not replenishing itself If it's made at an industrial scale the Clay would be gone in 10 years It's like mining, there is a certain amount of Clay on Earth.

[@brokerjk4197]

Clay can made

[@geordonworley5618]

Fired ceramics can be broken down into dust, reworked, and refired, even if they are quite durable chemically. I would watch some Primitive Technology videos. He has probably done this at least 20 times in his videos, and it seems very effective. Sometimes he uses the broken down bits of pottery as a kind of drying agent for the outside of pottery or other things as he is working them. His techniques are based on historical and traditional techniques around the world.

[@milianozuniga-deanda4955]

Can they set them aside and actually reuse and recycle them? Or would it be too much work?

[@onlinme7884]

i was thinking the same. plus,this is labour intensive.

[@elfyjohnson261]

Clay tea cups don't have any competition to disposables. Clay cups give an amazing taste to the tea and can be reused.

[@rj6404]

Its a dying art back breaking work in hazardous conditions , these people deserve better .

[@sweetthunderoflove1]

We need an Ancient Future more than ever✨️✨️

[@LaurelCanyonMojo]

What's old is new again. So many traditional methods are better than their modern-day counterparts.

[@vishuddhaarts9651]

I have spent days looking for a video like this explaining the full process and talking about how it is beneficial to use clay instead of plastic. Thank you! 😁

[@praveenvasistha247]

I am a Indian, I came to the comment section Hoping to see Racist Remarks, Unhygenic Muddy Tea Cups Etc.. But Glad to see Such Positive Reaction to Earthern Tea Cups.. Having Chai in one of them on a Rainy Day Is Heaven ❤❤

[@itryen7632]

These guys could see lots of success! Old traditionally made goods are very fashionable across the world!

[@abhisheksumanAS]

Kulhad tea is costly in metro cities of India as the taste becomes altogether different. And it is biodegradable, but it takes more time in weathering as compared to say, a banana peel. However, many times the cracked kulhads are used in other industries. For some talking about lack of recycling in India, please do know India has one of the recycling ratio among the bigger economies, not because of infrastructure, but because the poor would not let anything go to waste. It’s not something to brag about, but sufficiently said, India is able to recycle to a great deal and thus west should worry about its share of climate change contributions and even more about the deniers!

[@नागशक्ति_का_वारिस]

The subtitles don’t do justice to how humbly that man speaks. May God bless him and his family. ❤

[@ms.andrea172]

Why not reuse the clay cups? Still a waste ro put it in the trash.

[@miserere_me9168]

its india ...

[@HarpreetSingh-xr6em]

its not wates the broken cups are mixed with new clay as grout to make new

[@captainelgato8313]

Bro it's tea not water. A reused kulhad might interfere with the taste. Also these are not lined cups so the fate is sealed with one use ALSO there had to be a supply to help keep em potters up

[@zyxw2000]

They don't have the means to sterilize them for another use.

[@blackhagalaz]

The cups are not glazed and therefore proteins from the milk in the tea, and other fine particles will soak in the porous ceramic. We know from experimental archaeology that boiling milk in a pot like this effectively seals a clay vessel, but if the clay itself is not cleaned properly and/or put over a fire for sterilazation its a potential health risk. You could seal the clay with a glaze to make it washable, but I suppose this eliminates the "convinience" of the cup, if the tea merchants have to wash them after every use. Still a disposable clay pot is way better for the environment since its technically just hardened dirt. They could be smashed and ground up though, to make temper for new clay pots. But thats laborious without a machine.

[@1kreature]

And unglazed clay can leech heavy metals into the food/drink instead. The source of clay and it's content becomes very important.

[@TheIronpusher]

Feet, the source is feet.

[@1kreature]

@@TheIronpusher 🤣

[@nidhisawant4313]

​@@TheIronpusher they are fired in oven before use 🙄

[@DraftingandCrafting]

@@nidhisawant4313 Without a glaze, meaning the surface is porous. They said in the video the clay imparts flavour, guess what that is...

[@canesugar911]

Possible heavy metals or microplastics? Or BPA?

[@NateWilliams-dn7nf]

Plastic is actually really bad but paper is a good substitute.

[@deioped]

It seems to be an issue with production speed. Why don't they automate part of the process? The softening and kneading of the clay looks like it can be automated or at least partially automated/sped up using machines. Japanese noodle and mochi craftsmen sell 'handmade' products that are usually kneaded using machine and 'handmade' at some parts of the process.

[@arsenelutin1734]

likely because each cup is sold half a rupee, and they make 2,500 of them a day, so about 1,250 rupees, which is 14.80 american dollars, substract to that the cost of the material (clay and burning material), and obviously what they need to eat and such, I think such a machine would cost too much to even buy in the first place

[@deioped]

@arsenelutin1734 then the government should help them with the costs of the machine as a start up instead of just simply increasing their orders by making clay cups compulsory at train stations. Once the machine is up and running, they can increase their volume and self sustain.

[@brokerjk4197]

Because nobody want to buy it

[@squidikka]

Step 1: Cheap, exploitative labour to keep costs comparable to single use cups. Step 2: Introduce it as a new "green" product. Bonus points if you attach it to a trendy cause. Step 3: Profit! The uneducated masses praise your environmentalism at the expense of workers.

[@ektaagupta7048]

The guy selling tea at 6:10 is besides my collge i have sat in there and drank lots of cup of tea.

[@TsTobacco]

Just like everything else in India, this product has like five different names. 😂

[@jaraujousc]

It's crazy how many jobs are performed barefoot in India

[@r1a172]

So what's alternative?? Plastic covers or rubber shoes ?

[@Adi-dt3pg]

see its only workers in the lower classes who do these barefoot..also if ur feet can be used more efficiently than pressing and kneading with hand then why not? ppl have to come out of the notion that every thing a human touches become dirty.We ppl have been doing such things and yet had not large scale epidemics before the brits came. Additionally we were the biggest and richest economy along with china.While europeans were having epidemics back to back eventhough they believed they had hygiene.If u wanna experience any country go see its middle class.But a lot of the westerners(not u specifically) deliberately choose to see labourers and their conditions.Sure they are part of the country but doesnt even represent the rising economy of india today.I mean, westerners put vlogs like they went on a 0.5 dollar train ride with the worst conditions and say thats real india,which even us middle class would never take. I donno what exactly ur mindset is but I just wanted to dispel some false narratives

[@anshumanchaurasia4956]

Chai tastes great in these.

[@pandl100]

In 5000 years they have not found a more efficient way of creating these cups?

[@Dipankarr_]

Yes. There are thousands of clay cup factory in India. Here the traditional process is being shown

[@kirtigupta9753]

Plastic can't compete with Bhaad/ Kulhad as the clay cups give the earthy flavour.

[@saloninegi147]

I remember as children our dad would buy us piggy banks made of this clay. Our early childhood was in New Delhi. It wasn't fired, but the little pots were all nicely painted, with a slot on top for the coins. unfortunately they were so fragile, that anything could and would break them. Great memories of my dear dad, though! And yes, all the little chai stands had little clay, steel, or glass cups. Never paper or plastic back then, but this was more than fifty years ago.

[@harshitgupta7740]

If only i could find it here in the US. It gives a unique texture

[@gingganggoolie]

you can get unglazed teaware. I'm not sure if that would be exactly the same, but it's pretty good

[@harshitgupta7740]

@gingganggoolie is that made of clay?

[@DrTheRich]

@@harshitgupta7740 yes. But why would you want to? The reason it tastes different is because you are drinking parts of the cup. because it's not glazed, particles break down from the cup and go in the drink. not healthy. Also the drink absorbs into the clay, and can even mold, impossible to properly clean.

[@harshitgupta7740]

@DrTheRich Mold - that's why it's supposed to be for a one time use only. Also, since they heat the clay to such high temperatures, or at least they're supposed to, it ensures all the disease causing microbes cease to exist.

[@learningwithnk]

Not just cups but in india and Pakistan we use small plates for kheer which is a sweet dessert and cups small matkis for multipule use.

[@TnT_F0X]

Clay is used for tea for a reason. It retains heat while insulating. Like the difference between a coffee mug and a paper or styrofoam cup.

[@DrTheRich]

But they should glaze them to make them reusable and not deposit minerals in your drink

[@east_coast_ceo1070]

India 🇮🇳 has been trying to see better waste management, recycling, and cleaning up their communities as a whole to see better food health and growth in India 🇮🇳

[@skelitalmisfit12]

Why arent the cups collected, pulverized, and added back into the makers clay as grog? Itd reduce the amount of new clay needed and would mean they could profit more...

[@r1a172]

It is done

[@DawaL-c7t]

That this cup is compared to plastic cups in not breaking down easily after use is a strange logic. Used earthen cups can be crushed into soil but you can't do that with plastic and paper cups bathed in chemicals. I hope Indian government subsidize these wonderful things. It's good for everyone.

[@tiefensucht]

single use ceramics.. why?! just ban these single use items and only allow cups that can be washed. such a huge waste of resources.

[@Sid-wx7gi]

I always have my tea in a kulhad. Makes the tea better when you're chilling with your friends by the Ganga

[@jw4879]

Use the discarded kulhads to make durable road/footpath surfaces...?

[@karenneill9109]

Good idea. I bet it makes great gravel.

[@nouvel0001]

It anyways disintegrates & mixes with mud literally instantly.

[@My_initials_are_O.G.cuz_I_am]

​@@nouvel0001 It's fired clay, it is waterproof. It's stone, not mud.

[@iamSamik]

1. Recyclable 2. Environment Friendly 3. No impact to health unlike plastic or paper cups which uses chemicals. 4. Supports very small manufacturers who still depend on traditional way of manufacturing. 5. Aesthetically very appealing. Advantage of 5000 years old tradition.

[@satadal9310]

There was a place beside my locality called Kumorpara.....once upon a time there were 100s of house doing this things..... Only 2 survived today,... That's where our supplies comes and in last few years they are back in business due to rise of using clay lamps & outer shell of a famous firework they produce... Once Upon a time i joked them that they would have earned in lakhs in Western country, seem it'll become reality now

[@b.gopalakrishna870]

100% good product from India Bengal . Nice to see their hard work.

[@emolasher]

He makes 2,500 kulhads per day. Sells them at half a rupee. Thats $15 USD per day, minus expenses.

[@ekamsat429]

Four great reasons to use the kulhads: (1) fired clay and water wash just before pouring tea adds a subtle petrichor smell to the beverage enhancing the experience, (2) the clay insulates fingers from the heat and provides a cool, strong and textured (yet lightweight) surface, (3) use-and-throw keeps them hygienic, and (4) these are literally dirt cheap.

[@WalknTalknStevnHawkn]

You completely ignore cost, time and scale of production. They're not cheap in comparison to paper and plastic products.

[@ekamsat429]

It is an option for those who like and want it, and not for everybody. The production is a source of employment and artisanal tradition, in a society with high rates of poverty and unemployment. The cost of a clay cup is 5 Rupees, i.e., 6 cents, and only for those who wish to pay that, say, for hygiene.

[@NotExpatJoe]

One great reason not to use them (1) The clay is sourced from the Ganges River, a river full of pollution and corpses.

[@santoshpatil-eo9ol]

Practice ancient cultures, it protects both human health and nature earth....

[@Mrityormokshiya]

What's up with your thumbnail?? Looks like the Indian clay cups are beating your western single use plastic, hence the need to demonise clay cups that go to a kiln btw, unlike foot-made wines and dandruff hand made cheeses.

[@Rabina_das08]

"Dandruff hand made cheese" that was hilarious lmao

[@DanielJoyce]

1 slip casting 2 reusing them as others have suggested with refiring to sterilize them 3 regrind and use as grog in the clay. This reduces the cost of fresh clay. Previous days use csn be picked up at the shops. 4) make more durable reusable versions for home use The biggest problem is need for capital to modernize even a small amount.

[@DanielleCapichano]

If I had any control on the marketing of these tea cups, I would definitely look into what effort it would take to make these a bit more biodegradable, or to efficiently upcycle these into a second life purpose. Just my two cents.

[@lukemeck]

They aren't willing to change anything with the introduction of plastic, despite it taking the market, all in the name of traditio. They definitely would not change it to be more biodegradable for the same reason

[@Patrick-y4d1z]

Clay isn't biodegradable. It's clay. It's not breaking down into anything.

[@friendsgroup470]

​@@Patrick-y4d1zexactly, a little touch of water will turn the cup back to clay

[@Javadamutt]

​@@friendsgroup470 Not after it's been fired. Once fired the clay can no longer be reclaimed as it is chemically changed. Even if it was ground down to dust and water added you would be left with a sandy soup rather than the type of clay needed to make these cups

[@DeHub94]

It feels like they should sell their cups at a higher price. If customers value the clay cups as much as said in the video surely prices for chai in these could increase a bit. Not everyone might be able to afford them that way but they seem to be not able to handle the high demand anyway. I don't know much about India but they seem to be selling their craft a bit short.

[@Ghost.Nappa56]

Plastic cups can't compete with the taste of tea in a kulhad. A lot of us are willing to pay five ten rupees extra for that

[@akosijarako6455]

Imagine if that is glazed and painted... They can make millions of money with that... They can export it internationally.

[@Trixtah]

Glaze costs money. It needs to be fired at a higher temperature that the simple earthen kiln they use probably can't accommodate. It costs more in fuel to fire to a higher temperature.

[@Yuffie777]

Get a grip

[@ironhornforge]

Honestly these are beautiful, I'd love some here in Australia. Maybe the craftsman can create some that aren't disposable with some traditional designs to export to help sustain their industry. I know many westerners would love them

[@smartbaba1321]

Nowadays machines are taking over this buisness too, but why Forigen media always goes to traditional places only.

[@meerhamizanproduction]

Probably foreign place doesn't have old place🤷

[@raggapuss]

Having experienced this driving down a country road in India, I can attest, a masala chai served in this manner, so delicious, and then the remains of the clay cup returned to the earth … was quite memorable…

[@zyxw2000]

Business Insider is an informative news company. They're going to show what's unusual, not what's common. Plastic and paper cups don't make news.

[@zyxw2000]

Business Insider reports on unusual things, as common things don't make news.

[@tylerwestover234]

Because this is called "business insider" it goes to interesting artisan business.

[@prashantkv4]

I think people use it not because its environment friendly but because of taste and aroma that earthern pots and cups give. If heated they give a smokey/tandoor flavour to food dishes and if food is cooked or kept inside the pots flavour of earth comes from it. The clay used is also special, not available everywhere. So, the art would not die. But may become limited, or luxury.

[@unequallmpala4572]

2:50 someone needs to introduce this man to the wonderful invention that is gloves

[@dasarpagrud]

They know about gloves, protective equipment & whatnot. Poverty is the issue, it's impossible to compete with plastic/paper when the consumer can only pay so much for a cup of tea. Cafés meant for rich/middle class already use ceramic cups, cheaper tea stalls have switched to plastic/paper to keep the cost of a cup of tea low.

[@thebrowns5337]

​@@dasarpagrud Can we not call them 'paper' cups. I know the base material is pulp as used in paper/card but remember they are coated, at least internall, with plastic. Often they are printed too. The plastics and inks used, and the processes involved with applying them, are a problem environmentally and for human safety. Calling them 'paper' cups is a great disguise for this and is essentially green-washing. Lets just call them disposible cups - and we all know disposible is not great.

[@TheShuryansh]

Why ? Your cup will be washed thoroughly before use, it's dusty till it reaches shops।।

[@dasarpagrud]

@@thebrowns5337 That's not my point, I don't endorse paper & plastics for beverage use and certainly not defending their use, call them whatever but the fact here is this: the person making clay cups has to make enough money as a business- a cup of tea costs around INR 10-15(8-16 cents) to the consumer, he can't raise the price of these handmade clay cups, daily tea drinkers will flock to the spot with lowest total price of a cup.

[@Yuffie777]

And why is everyone always barefoot as well

[@AbhishekYadav-lw7eh]

Drinking tea in these cup takes my mind 1000 of years back instantly.

[@ujjvalbihola]

Nothing compares to the charm of sipping tea from a kulhad-no fancy mug can ever replicate the earthy delight it brings. And here’s the best part: kulhads aren’t just for one-time use. You can recycle or take them home to reuse, making them as sustainable as they are special. ❤

[@carus6280]

so recycling them might be tricky however you don't need to, it's just clay, it will just break back down into a gravel. Certainly compared to a forever chemical like plastic it's nothing. Micro-clay is not an issue like micro-plastic. Perhaps the Indian Goverment can offer incentives for their use instead of plastic. I bet we could even work out a way to adapt these for use in the West, we banned plastic straws so encouraging disposable clay should be easy.

[@_rakkim]

Used these when I was in India. Love the sweet tea they call coffee 👌

[@_Parmatma_]

Sweet tea they call coffee ? Isn't Tea and Coffee , completely different thing ?

[@newsstudy1]

He is saying right. It taste better whatever you put in these kulhads especially chai(tea). I am from lucknow (up) . I use it somtimes but it costs much than others.

[@r1a172]

2 or 3 rupee is not much dude

[@rizzorizzo2311]

Would be nice if they were more worried about health before they turned the Ganga into a sewage river.

[@r1a172]

Stop watching too much propaganda videos.. yes ganga is dirty but not everyehere.. it's only dirty near industeries.. govt is setting up STPs.. things will improve slowly... in uttarakhand and bihar ganga is much cleaner

[@RaeSyngKane]

So many of these “artisanal” jobs are failing and dangerous because of a lack of industrial tools and over regulation. They aren’t competing against an artisan made paper cup but against one that is so easily and safely mass produced that it’s spilling over into areas not intended for it. They need machinery to easily process the clay, to better and more safely kiln fire it, and even to help shape it. But they’re already so low on capital that they’re failing to get by. It’s the death of the artisan that progress has seen a million times over.

[@cesarparra6025]

Why not recycle them? Tea sellers could have a bin only for the kulhads and sell them back to the makers to ground them for base material.

[@spicychad55]

It costs more money to recycle. It's like wondering why there's no more bottled soda VS plastic bottles. Costs more to remake them and the logistics cost more since ceramic is heavier so you have less to carry

[@NotExpatJoe]

In India, the fear of caste cross-contamination deeply influences daily life, leading to irrational practices around cleanliness and purity. Many from higher castes refuse to use cups that may have even touched those used by lower castes, fearing contamination. A good majority would never use, or touch, a cup that is recycled or used recycled material.

[@CyrusTheGreat-b3k]

@@NotExpatJoewhich century are you from?

[@NotExpatJoe]

@@CyrusTheGreat-b3k I am at least a few century's ahead of India. The caste system was officially banned in 1950 but, it is still alive and well in every aspect of daily lives in India.

[@CyrusTheGreat-b3k]

@@NotExpatJoe so when people go to tea shops and bakery they are checking caste of other customers?! Get a better hobby other than bashing India

[@thesacredgurkha6529]

Not only is this eco friendly but it gives a lovely aroma when you sip tea from it. I reuse these earten cups to plant my succulent saplings.

[@ptrix]

Those clay cups seem to be VERY durable and reusable, why are they disposed of after a single use rather than returned to the makers, or rinsed and put back on the shelf for a future customer to use after they dry out? It seems remarkably wasteful, considering all the work that goes into creating them 🍵🗑🤷‍♂

[@zyxw2000]

These vendors don't have a means of sterilizing cups for a second use. They don't have dishwashers.

[@thegreenpaperclip42]

The cups aren’t glazed so they can’t actually be sterilized! Think more like terracotta plant pot not English teacup

[@pyronical]

As other said, can't be sterilized. But also, using them a second time, you don't get the same smoky/earthy flavour again.

[@raccoontrashpanda1467]

Unglazed pottery is porous, you can't clean it.

[@andreafeelsfantastic]

@@thegreenpaperclip42it’s because they are not fired high enough to vitrify them, glazing would not actually help.

[@BS-detector]

All efforts should be made to eliminate plastics from our lives.

[@thewandererofmumbai6169]

Indian government should ban these plastic and paper cups. This will reduce the wastes and increase sales for these cup manufacturers

[@uuuuu9313]

Even paper cups?? And plastic cup is to be used for cold beverages we are the ones who use it for hot beverages Kulhads are great but they can't supply to whole billion people

[@karenneill9109]

@@uuuuu9313Canada has banned single use plastic- no more plastic cups. It’s not been an issue. Wax coated paper cups work very well for cold drinks. I’m not sure you could ban paper, as you say.

[@Nikhil_Sahu_G]

Soil is most useful and eco-friendly alternative of most of things like plastic and metal. Most people might don't experience but living in house made with Soil and wood is best suited of Indian climate. Warmer in winter, cooler in summer.

[@DrTheRich]

You have to destroy the soil somewhere to obtain it.. And a reusable metal cup is more useful than a throwaway stone cup

[@dhairya8238]

Waiting for all the couch hygiene experts to come to the comments.