Natural Jadeite Jade, Made for Use
Jadeite jade is the material at the centre of everything we make. Alongside jewellery, carvings and decorative objects, we shape it into functional pieces intended for eating, drinking and serving.
When a Steppe & Co. product is designed for contact with food or drink, it is made from solid natural Type A jadeite jade and finished for its stated use.
Natural Type A jadeite jade
Our functional pieces are made from natural Type A jadeite jade. The finished piece has not been acid-bleached, dyed or impregnated with polymer or resin.
This distinction matters. Some treated jade is chemically bleached and subsequently filled with polymer to alter its colour or translucency. With our Type A jadeite jade, the food-contact surface is polished natural stone rather than resin-impregnated material.
Dense and low in porosity
Jadeite jade is a sodium aluminium silicate mineral with a dense, tightly interlocking crystalline structure and naturally low porosity.
This structure helps the finished surface resist the absorption of liquids, flavours and odours during normal use. It also allows the jadeite jade to be cleaned without relying on an internal glaze, lining or protective resin coating.
Made from solid jadeite jade
Our functional objects are shaped directly from solid jadeite jade rather than coated with it or lined with another material. Where a design is formed from a single piece, the interior and exterior are part of the same natural stone.
There is no hidden ceramic body, internal glaze or resin-filled drinking surface.
Traceable from source
Our jadeite jade comes through a documented and traceable supply chain. This allows us to establish where the stone came from, how it was processed and whether it has undergone treatment.
That traceability is particularly important in a market where treated and misidentified jade are common.
Care and use
Wash before first use with warm water and mild washing-up liquid.
Hand wash after use and dry with a soft cloth. Avoid dishwashers, abrasive cleaners, harsh chemicals and sudden temperature changes. Do not use jadeite jade products in a microwave, oven or over direct heat.
Do not continue using an item if it becomes cracked or chipped. Always follow any additional care instructions provided for the individual product.