You are in the right place. Happy Tiffins are only available here on-line; we do not have a brick-and-mortor retail store.
Uhh... just what is a tiffin?
Courtesty of Wikipedia:
Tiffin is lunch, or any light meal. It originated in British India, and is today found primarily in Indian English. The word originated when Indian custom superseded the British practice of an afternoon dinner, leading to a new word for the afternoon meal. It is derived from the obsolete English slang tiffing, for “taking a little drink or sip”. When used for “lunch”; it is not necessarily a light meal.
In South India and in Nepal, the term is generally used for between-meals snacks: dosas, idlis, etc. Outside South India, like Mumbai, the word mostly refers to any packed lunch, often light lunches prepared for working Indian men by their wives after they have left for work, or for schoolchildren by their parents. It is often forwarded to them by dabbawalas, sometimes known as tiffin wallahs, who use a complex system to get thousands of tiffin-boxes to their destinations. Tiffin often consists of rice, dal, curry, vegetables, chapathis or "spicy meats".
In addition, the lunch boxes are themselves called tiffin carriers, tiffin-boxes or sometimes tiffins.
What type of stainless steel are the tiffins made from?
Happy Tiffin latch tiffins and pyramid tiffins are manufactured of AISI 201 stainless steel. This steel is lighter, 30% stronger, and provides superior corrosion resistance than 18/10, 18/1 (300 series) counterparts. That makes for a light and strong stainless steel food container. 18/10 stainless steel is great if you are shopping for flatware, but it’s not what you want in a tiffin!
Where are Happy Tiffin products manufactured?
Happy Tiffin products are manufactured for us in a variety of places — California, India and Korea. All our tiffin containers and lunch bowls are made from the finest quality food grade stainless steel.
What is the quality of the tiffins?
Compare our tiffins to theirs - our tiffins are not manufactured of tin or aluminum, or cheaply mass-produced. Our tiffins are not composed of thinly made stainless steel like you’ll find at many of the big box world import stores. These are the real deal. They are heavy-duty and meant to last for years! They are Happy Tiffins.
Are stainless steel products dishwasher-safe?
Yes. These all of our stainless steel products are safe to put in your dishwasher for cleaning except the lids to the Lunch Bowls (the dishwasher can dry out the silicone seal). In fact, unlike plastic, they will not hold odors or stain. You can also go traditional and wash them with soap and water.
Can I put my stainless steel tiffin or lunch bowl in the microwave?
No. You cannot put any metal in a microwave.
Can I reheat my food using the tiffin container?
Yes, feel free to do so on the stovetop, in a toaster oven, or an open flame. Note: Similar to other steel or metal products, tiffins are not safe to use in the microwave. You can reheat your food in a microwave using a soup mug or any ceramic dish.
Will liquids spill out of my tiffin?
No and Yes. All of our tiffins have an inner lip that is sealed by the tier above. When latched, liquids will only spill out if the tiffin is left on its side and then it is generally a small dribble. All that to say -- the contents may spill out if not kept level. If you are using a Pyramid tiffin or Square Tiffin, these have individual lids on top of each tier. Both will keep the contents from spilling if latched, but if you leave them tipped over for any length of time, your contents will leak.
Are the tiffin containers leak-proof?
Latch tiffins are not intended to be 100% leak-proof. Our tiffins effectively carry soups and sauces as long as it is not aggressively shaken or spun upside down, it can hold liquids very well. The Lunch Bowls are air-tight and water-tight.
Are tiffins insulated?
These are traditional authentic tiffins and do not have insulation.
How long do tiffins keep my food cold or hot?
They will keep food hot or cold for around an hour. However, for cold food items, you can put an ice pack in the middle tier to keep them cool. If you want to keep temperature longer, then the insulated tiffin carrier might be for you.
Can I write on my stainless steel products?
Yes. You can use a non-permanent marker like a STEADTLER marker and remove the writing by washing off with soap and water, so have some fun and write your name, contents and date.
