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Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 3
Copper's History as an Antimicrobial Element ............................................................................... 9
Copper for a Green Planet .......................................................................................................... 10
Maintenance of lacquer lined copper mugs ................................................................................ 11
Removal of Lacquer ................................................................................................................... 12
Maintenance of Unlined Copper Mugs ........................................................................................ 13
The history behind the MOSCOW MULE cocktail ......................................................................... 15
MOSCOW MULE Recipes ............................................................................................................ 17
Get a Coupon ............................................................................................................................. 19
Sources ...................................................................................................................................... 20

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 Introduction

When it comes to copper mugs, there is a lot of confusion: which mug is better? Lined
or unlined? Is copper toxic, or safe to use?

In order to choose the right copper mug, you first have to understand whether copper
is safe to use.

Copper is an essential micro nutrient our bodies use daily for many important
functions. Copper is required for the formation of about 50 enzymes, and it’s needed
for our transporters, which shuttle hormones and neurotransmitters all over our bodies.
Copper protects the lining of blood vessels and myelin. It supports energy production
and many other functions of our bodies. Since the body does not synthesize copper,
the essential level of copper must come from nutrition. In fact, because of its
outstanding ability to withstand corrosion, copper is also used for pipes, in systems
carrying potable water, so some of us gets copper through our tap water as well.
Sounds simple, right? Simply combine foods enriched with copper like liver, seafood,
nuts, seeds, mushrooms, and beans to get the daily supply of copper required.

But as it turns out, this is not the case. The US Food and Nutrition Board of the National
Academy of Sciences states that only 25% of the US population gets enough copper
daily.

The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) guidelines, set by the U.S. Food and Nutrition
Board of the National Academies Institute of Medicine, set both the recommended
dietary allowances (RDA) and the upper intake levels for copper. The group's intake
recommendation is 0.9 milligrams of copper a day for adults, with more for lactating
women (1.3 milligrams) and less for children (0.34 milligrams for children up to three,
and 0.44 milligrams for children between four and eight years old). The upper limit is
10 milligrams per day for healthy adults.

So why does copper has a bad reputation? High doses of copper have been
associated with cancer and Alzheimer's disease, as well as kidney and liver damage.
As in all good things, a balance is required.

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So now that we understand that a trace amount supply of daily copper is vital and
essential to our health and well-being, let's understand what types of copper mugs are
available.

There are several types of copper mugs:

1. Lined copper mugs

2. pure copper mugs lined with lacquer
3. pure copper mugs unlined

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 The Different Types of Copper Mugs

1. Lined copper mugs

The inner lining is made from stainless steel, nickel or tin. These mugs are the
modern imitation of the original, authentic copper mug – machine mass production
in China, as opposed to the originals that are handmade in India, where they have
a long tradition of using copper mugs. Although from the outside the imitation might
seem like the real thing, in terms of use, it’s a different story.

PROS CONS

Price- If you are tight on budget, these mugs are a nice, Temperature- The temperature will never be
cheaper solution. Make sure you're paying at least half preserved as well as in the real copper mugs. If you're
price when compared to the authentic copper mugs’ expecting to get a frosty drink just like you would with
price; otherwise you're being ripped off. the pure copper mug, you'll get disappointed (as
proven in the experiment below).

Maintenance- It's easy to clean and maintain the Maintenance - The outer copper plating still needs
inner part as long as it doesn’t get scratched. same maintenance care that is detailed in this guide.

Taste - The Moscow Mule cocktail will not get the

SPIRIT VALLEY's Cold
authentic flavor that comes from a chemical reaction
Beer Experiment
60 between the lime and the copper, which gives it the

55 unique taste it is known for.

50
Durability - Usually these mugs won't last for many
years, as the lined surface tends to peel off with time,
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

45
and the result is a very unattractive mug.
40
Health benefits - You do not get any of the health
35 benefits of drinking from copper mugs.
30 Antibacterial affect - Your mug will not have the
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 60 90 120
antibacterial affect that copper has.
MINUTES
SPIRIT VALLEY's Pure Copper Mug
Lined Copper Mug
Glass Mug

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 2. Pure copper mugs lined with lacquer
Many sellers claim that they sell unlined, pure copper mugs. Is that the truth?
Actually it’s often not. What these sellers forget to advertise is that their mugs are
lined with food safe lacquer. Let us understand the pros and cons of the lacquer
usage:

PROS CONS

Temperature - The mug will preserve the temperature Taste - The Moscow Mule cocktail will not get the
as copper does. Prepare to drink the coldest drink ever! authentic flavor that comes from a chemical reaction
between the lime and the copper, which gives it the
unique taste it is known for.

Maintenance - as long as the lacquer is intact, the Price - These mugs are usually handmade in India,
mug looks shiny and smooth, with an easy where they have a long tradition of drinking from
maintenance. copper mugs, so the price is higher than the Chinese
imitation.

Durability - Copper is extremely resistant to Lacquer's resistance - The lacquer is a thin layer
atmospheric corrosion, but over time, a superficial applied on the mug that will eventually peel off. As it
discoloring or tarnish layer eventually forms, even with peels or gets scratched, you might see some
the lacquer. This is part of the charm of copper; it's hard discoloration on the mug that can be treated with the
to avoid it entirely, but with proper care, your copper right care. In other cases, moisture might get under the
mug will last you for a lifetime! lacquer, tarnishing the copper. The only way to treat it
is to remove the lacquer.

Heat - Copper mugs lined with lacquer can't be used

with hot drinks, or the lacquer will melt.
Health benefits - You do not get any of the health
benefits of drinking from copper mugs.
Antibacterial affect - Your mug will not have the
antibacterial affect that copper has.

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 3. pure copper mugs unlined
These mugs might come with lacquer on the outside, or they might be unlined
completely. Eventually, the pure copper mugs lined with lacquer will become
unlined, as well.

PROS CONS

Temperature - The mug will preserve the Maintenance - Copper mugs require a bit of extra
temperature as copper does. Prepare to drink the effort to maintain in good condition. You'll find the
coldest drink ever! maintenance instructions next.

Taste - The Moscow Mule cocktail will get the Price - These mugs are usually handmade in India,
authentic flavor that comes from a chemical reaction where they have a long tradition of drinking from copper
between the lime and the copper, which gives it the mugs, so the price is higher than the Chinese imitation.
unique taste it is known for

Durability - Copper is extremely resistant to

atmospheric corrosion, but over time, a superficial
discoloring or tarnish layer eventually forms, even with
the lacquer. This is part of the charm of copper; it's
hard to avoid it entirely, but with proper care, your
copper mug will last you for a lifetime!

Antibacterial affect - Your mug will have an

antibacterial effect.

Heat - Without the lacquer your mug will be great for hot drinks, as well. But one word of caution: copper is so
heat conductive people often have to relearn what beverage temperature to use. A good rule of thumb is to use
half the heat you would on a non-copper mug, at least for the first time. Once you pour the hot drink inside the
mug, the handle will get to that temperature in seconds, so please be careful not to get burns.
Health benefits - You will get the health benefits of drinking from copper mugs. In fact copper is involved in
so many of our body's functions the list of benefits is so long we have published an entire eBook just on this topic
(as our customer you should get this eBook free of charge). In short The health benefits of copper include proper
growth of the body, efficient utilization of iron, proper enzymatic reactions, as well as improved health of
connective tissues, hair, and eyes. Copper is also integral for preventing premature aging and increasing energy
production. Apart from these, regulated heart rhythm, balanced thyroid glands, reduced symptoms of arthritis,
quick wound healing, increased red blood cell formation, and reduced cholesterol are other health benefits of
copper.

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 SPIRIT VALLEY's Copper Mugs
So now that you know all types of copper mugs, you're probably wondering: which
type of copper mug should I own?

We at SPIRIT VALLEY are great advocates of using unlined copper mugs to enjoy all
of copper's benefits. In fact, we have published an eBook on this topic and made it our
goal to spread the word about the importance of copper to man's health. As our
customer, you should receive this eBook free of charge, and we hope you'll find it
interesting and useful. If you haven't received it yet, please contact us at
www.thespiritvalley.com

We made a big effort to test copper mugs from different manufacturers to find the best
copper mugs for our customers. We prefer the hammered style, since it looks much
better over time, as all of the scratches or tarnish spots merge nicely with the
hammering. Our copper mugs are handmade with great care to ensure high quality.
Our mugs are all 100% pure recycled copper lined with lacquer.

So why did we choose to line it with lacquer?

If you read this guide carefully, you know the lacquer lining prevents the copper from
touching the drink, and in fact prevents most of the copper's benefits. The only benefit
of the lacquered mug is that it is easier to maintain. Since we have to ship the mugs
from India to the US the lacquer is essential for protecting the mug in the shipment
and storage phases, otherwise the humidity conditions along the way to our customer's
might tarnish the mugs. Our customers deserve to get beautiful & shiny new mugs!
If we did a good job in convincing you that you’re better off drinking from an unlined
copper mug, please don't be disappointed. It is very easy to remove the lacquer lining
from the mug. In fact, the lacquer will rub off anyway over time. You'll find the
instructions for the lacquer removal in the maintenance chapter.

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 Copper's History as an Antimicrobial Element

The use of copper by human civilizations dates back to between the 5th and 6th
millennia B.C, as the first metal used. The oldest recorded medical use of copper is
mentioned in the Smith Papyrus, one of the oldest books known. This Egyptian
medical text, written between 2600 and 2200 B.C., describes the application of copper
to sterilize chest wounds and drinking water. Greeks, Romans, Aztecs, and others also
used copper or copper compounds for the treatment of such ailments as headaches,
burns, intestinal worms, and ear infections and for hygiene in general. In the 19th
century, a new awareness of copper's medical potency was spawned by the
observation that copper workers appeared to be immune to cholera in the 1832 and
subsequent outbreaks in Paris, France. The use of copper in medicine became
widespread in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and a variety of inorganic copper
preparations were used to treat chronic adenitis, eczema, impetigo, scrofulosis,
tubercular infections, lupus, syphilis, anemia, chorea, and facial neuralgia. The use of
copper as an antimicrobial agent continued until the advent of commercially available
antibiotics in 1932.

Why do we throw coins into rivers?

In the past the currencies were made of copper.

Once thrown in the river, copper would slowly
dissolve in the water, purifying it and the person
drinking it would have sufficient intake of the metal in their body. Although present day
currencies no longer have copper in them, the old custom of throwing coins in the river
still continues till today.

The antimicrobial activity of copper and copper alloys is now well established, and
copper has recently been registered at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as
the first solid antimicrobial material (with a proven ability to kill 99.9% of bacteria within
two hours). In several clinical studies, copper has been evaluated for use on touch
surfaces, such as door handles, bathroom fixtures, or bed rails, in attempts to curb
nosocomial infections.

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 Copper for a Green Planet

Used for over 8,000 years it seems that the use of copper is increasing more and
more. Copper as the best conductor of electricity and heat is energy efficient and being
used for electricity infrastructure efficiency, renewable energy and energy access for
disadvantaged populations.

Another great attribute of copper is that it is infinitely recyclable. Once you get it off the
ground, you can use it over and over again, it doesn’t degrade and is fully recyclable
so the mug you drink from today can become a door knob in a hospital tomorrow and
a copper wire in 200 years from now.

SPIRIT VALLEY's copper mugs are all made from recyclable copper. We urge you to
recycle the mug once you are done using it (which might be never)

In this modern age, we often choose convenience over a healthier living – drinking
from plastic cups for example is not only harmful for the environment but also pose
health risks. Adopt the use of copper mugs today for a green future for our planet.

Did you know that less than 5% of the thousands of copper mugs and other utensils
sold on amazon each month are made from recycled copper?

Care for the planet? Love Moscow Mules and copper mugs?

Please share your review for the SPIRIT VALLEY recycled copper set, to encourage
brands and buyers to switch to recycled copper.

It's simple and easy, will take you less than 5 minutes. Just follow this link:

https://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/ref=cm_cr_dp_wrt_summary?ie=UTF8&asin=B01F0HAVG0&channel=detail-
glance&nodeID=284507&store=kitchen#

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 Maintenance of lacquer lined copper mugs

 Dry, Dry, and Dry again - Simply wash in warm water with regular dish soap
immediately, using a soft sponge (rough sponges may remove the lacquer) after use,
and dry right away with a dishtowel to avoid oxidation and the development of a patina.
From our experience, most people don’t dry it thoroughly enough; they just lightly rub
over the surface of the mug. These copper mugs then sit in a cupboard with moisture
left on them, which, as we've already said, can lead to oxidation and a darkening of
the mug's color. It's a good idea to use cotton cloth first, as this does a great job at
absorbing moisture, before passing over the whole mug again with a second dry cloth.
 Don’t let it drip dry- that is another common mistake that results in discoloration. We
suggest that after drying the mug thoroughly with cloth, you can then let it air dry before
putting it in the cupboard to avoid unwanted moisture.
 Never Use a Dishwasher - The cleaning experience inside a dishwasher can be
relatively abrasive, which could cause linings to crack and flake off, and the mugs to
become dented. Also, even leaving them for a short period of time to sit with what you
may consider to be a relatively insignificant amount of water on them is bad practice
and can cause oxidation, which will lead to the development of the patina that you are
trying to avoid.
 Discoloration - If your lacquered mug is discoloring, it's either a sign the lacquer is
starting to peel off in some spots, or that you haven’t been drying the mug thoroughly.
Over time, discoloration will appear. It is hard to prevent it. If you don't mind this
aesthetic issue, just continue with the regular maintenance routine. You might be
surprised to know that some people prefer the discolored look, as it is more authentic
and vintage. If you are not one of them, you'll have to remove the lacquer in order to
get rid of the discoloration evolved.
 Polish - There is no need to apply polish over the lacquer. If the lacquer is worn off,
you can fully remove it and then apply new lacquer.

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 Removal of Lacquer

The safe food lacquer applied on the mug is a very thin layer. If you do not desire to
have this layer, you’ll want to remove it gently without scratching the mug. You will find
many suggestions on the web, some of them recommend boiling the mug in water but
since the mug is delicate we recommend using a gentler approach. The lacquer is oil
based so in order to remove it you need to use removers for oil.
Our favorite method is using Paint Thinner, a solvent used to thin oil-based paints or
clean up after their use. Another good choice is rubbing the mug gently with any type
of kitchen grease remover (we use “Easy-Off heavy duty oven cleaner”).
Remember to always test your remover on the bottom of your mug for suitability.
The last approach is to simply use the mug often and it'll rub off each time you clean
the mug.

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 Maintenance of Unlined Copper Mugs

 Dry, Dry, and Dry Again - Simply wash in warm water with regular dish soap
immediately, using a soft sponge (rough sponges may remove the lacquer) after use
and dry right away with a dishtowel to avoid oxidation and the development of a patina.
From our experience, most people don’t dry it thoroughly enough; they just lightly rub
over the surface of the mug. These copper mugs then sit in a cupboard with moisture
left on them, which, as we've already said, can lead to oxidation and a darkening of
the mug's color. It's a good idea to use cotton cloth first, as this does a great job at
absorbing moisture, before passing over the whole mug again with a second dry cloth.
 Don’t let it drip dry- that is another common mistake that results in discoloration. We
suggest that after drying the mug thoroughly with cloth, you can then let it air dry before
putting it in the cupboard to avoid unwanted moisture.
 Never Use a Dishwasher - The cleaning experience inside a dishwasher can be
relatively abrasive, which could cause linings to crack and flake off and the mugs to
become dented. Also, even leaving them for a short period of time to sit with what you
may consider to be a relatively insignificant amount of water on them is bad practice
and can cause oxidation, which will lead to the development of the patina that you
might be trying to avoid.
 Discoloration- Over time, discoloration will appear. It is hard to prevent it. If you don't
mind this aesthetic issue, just continue with the regular maintenance routine. You
might be surprised to know that some people prefer the discolored look, as it is more
authentic and vintage.
 Polish - To keep your mug polished, use a fine copper polish. There are many products
available in the market. We recommend MAAS Liquid Polish and Paste Polish. MAAS
polishes have a protectant in them that helps guard against blemishes from
fingerprints and tarnish, and when used according to their directions, these are food
safe. Always test your polish on the bottom of your mug for suitability. If you're going
to polish your mug, it’s better that you polish just the outer surface, to get the great
shiny new look back.

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 Natural cleansing and polishing - You can find many suggestions online (lemon juice,
baking soda, vinegar, ketchup, etc.). We have tried many of them, but haven't gotten
satisfying results, so we can't recommend them. Most of them will not harm the mug,
so you are free to try (just be careful from scratches), and we would love it if you can
share your results with us.

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 The history behind the MOSCOW MULE cocktail

It seems that this refreshing fun cocktail was invented and promoted as result of the
desperation of 2 business man.

John G. Martin, an executive at the Heublein drinks company, had bought the rights
to Smirnoff for Heublein in the late 1930s, but he was having a hard time convincing
Americans to drink the stuff. Vodka wasn’t very popular in the States back then.

In 1941 he met with his friend Jack Morgan, owner of the Los Angeles British pub Cock
‘n’ Bull. Morgan had problems of his own: he had ordered far too much ginger beer for
his bar and was having trouble getting rid of it.

The 2 friends shared their burdens with each other. They decided to mix their vodka
and ginger beer together, and shake with a massive dose of ice cubes. Adding a
wedge of lime and the miracle was done. Because of the kick from the ginger beer,
they called it initially MULE. Later on it was named MOSCOW MULE.

As nice as that story is, another story about Moscow Mule is totally different. According
to a 2007 article in the Wall Street Journal penned by Eric Felton, the Cock ‘n’ Bull’s
head bartender, Wes Price, claimed he invented the recipe.

As we are not sure which version is the true version, the rest of the tale is verified.

Why did the copper mug become a part of the drink?

The answer is surprising: Morgan's girlfriend had a factory for copper products.

In 1947, Edwin H. Land invented the Polaroid Land Camera, and instant photography
was born. At an attempt to promote his vodka Martin bought a camera and started bar-
crawling, taking pictures of bartenders holding a bottle of the firm’s Smirnoff Vodka in
one hand and a copper Moscow Mule mug in the other. The bartender got a copy for
his troubles, and Martin took a second shot to show the next joint what the competition
was selling. Martin was a true marketing genius.

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Some movie stars such as Woody Allen had even been hired to promote his
concoction drink. Between 1947 and 1950, sales of Smirnoff vodka tripled, as well as
doubled again by 1951. By all these efforts Martin made the Moscow Mule the most
popular cocktail.

As other popular things the Moscow Mule has fade out as time goes on and had even
entered the “endangered species list”. But as retro fashion rised up Moscow Mule re-
emerge in many restaurant and bars and for good reason… it's delicious.

So, what’s old is new again, even the concept of using copper mugs to market the
Moscow mule. The young American become new fans of this old traditional cocktail
and today, as the world is so global and viral, Moscow Mule is not only an American
drink, now it is loved by Brazilian, Japanese, Cuban and even Russian.

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 MOSCOW MULE Recipes

The MOSCOW MULE cocktail is officially back! There are so many great new recipes
we can’t even keep up with them. We have collected our favorite recipes for your
convenience.

1. A Classic Moscow Mule cocktail

Ingredients
SERVINGS: MAKES 1

 Ice cubes
 1/4 cup vodka
 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
 1/2 cup chilled ginger beer
 1 lime wedge

Preparation
Fill a copper mug with ice. Add vodka and lime juice, then ginger beer; stir to
mix. Garnish with lime wedge.

2. Apple Cider Moscow Mule - Get the Apple Cider Moscow Mule recipe from
Sugar And Charm
3. Watermelon Moscow Mule - Get the Watermelon Moscow Mule recipe from
I’m Bored Let’s Go
4. Holiday Mule- Get the Holiday Mule recipe from Home Sweet Jones

5. Strawberry Moscow Mule- Get the Strawberry Moscow Mule Cocktail

recipes from Family Fresh Cooking

6. Garden Mule- Get the Garden Mule recipe from Something New For Dinner

7. Moscow Mule Jello Shots- Get the Moscow Mule Jello Shots recipe from
Domesticate Me

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 8. Pomegranate Moscow Mule cocktail- Get the Pomegranate Moscow Mule
recipe from The Cookie Rookie

9. Moscow Mules With Cucumber- Get the Moscow Mules With Cucumber
recipe from The Chic Site

10. Hibiscus Berry Moscow Mules- Get the Hibiscus Berry Moscow Mules
recipe from Aida Molenkamp

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Get a Coupon
We hope you found this eBook useful!
Are you enjoying your copper mugs and straws set?

Want another set? Visit our website to get a discount coupon for your
next purchase www.thespiritvalley.com

Don’t forget to check out the second eBook you got

from us!

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Our customer service will be happy to help you with any issue.

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 Sources
1. Dietary Reference Intakes: Elements
https://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Nu
trition/DRIs/DRI_Elements.pdf?la=en

2. Copper alliance
http://copperalliance.org/benefits-of-copper/societal-benefits-of-copper-
human-health/

3. Metallic Copper as an Antimicrobial Surface

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3067274/

4. Suzy Cohen, RPh

http://suzycohen.com/articles/copper-deficiency-causes-hypertension-
high-cholesterol/

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