Tiffin Guide & FAQ

Where can I buy a Happy Tiffin?

You are in the right place. Happy Tiffins are only available here on-line; we do not have a brick-and-mortar retail store.

Where are your tiffins manufactured?

Our traditional East India tiffins and mess trays have been manufactured in India to our standards since 2007. We travel there annually to review manufacturing and develop new products for our company.

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 The word originated when Indian custom superseded the British practice of an afternoon dinner, leading to a new word for the afternoon meal.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 food containers like our latch tiffins and pyramid tiffins are manufactured specifically to our meticulous specations - this means superiour heavy duty AISI 201 stainless steel. This steel is lighter, 30% stronger, and provides superior corrosion resistance than its counterparts. That makes for a light and strong stainless steel food container.

Where are Happy Tiffin products manufactured?

Our products are manufactured specifically for Happy Tiffin customers in a variety of places — California, India and Korea. All our tiffin containers, stainless steel tableware, 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 or outdoor stores. These are the real deal. They are heavy-duty and meant to last for years; they are Happy Tiffins. Believe me - I collect tiffins (yea - it's true) and have set out to make the best - you may find other food containers but you will see their bottom line is cost. It's my company and you can bet I did not skimp on quality or construction. Happy Tiffin is the new American tiffin.

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 cook or reheat food in my tiffin container?

No. Tiffins are food containers specifically made for transporting food and are not made for baking or cooking. Heat will warp any container which is not made specifically for using on the stove top or as a baking pan.

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?

Tiffins have been around for 50 years and the design has not changed for a reason - it just works. Simple. Beautiful. Functional. Latch tiffins were never designed to be 100% leak-proof. Our tiffins effectively carry soups and sauces as long as it is not aggressively shaken or spun upside down. If you want an air-tight and liquid tight stainless steel food container the then we have you covered - our Lunch Bowls are perfect.

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.

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.

Will Happy Tiffin come out with a plastic tiffin?

No. We do not promote the use of plastic products. Our focus will be on the lower impact creation of stainless steel. Please read the latest info from the National Resources Defense Councils' Simple Steps – Advice for Going Green website, they outline both the good and bad of food storage containers. Stainless steel ranks at the very top. All plastic has an impact on the environmental and production of impacts of manufacturing plastic based containers.