This beautiful and unique gold hotpot makes any hotpot meal a special occasion.

Made of one piece of sturdy stainless steel, it has a burnished, bright-gold interior, a hammered, dimpled body, scalloped edges, and handles with an ancient Asian motif. It also has the perfect hotpot shape—narrower at the bottom where it makes contact with the heat and wider at the top for easy access and dipping. Up to 5 people can use the pot with ease. 

Like our other hotpots, this one is custom made for us in Sichuan by a company that makes hotpots for restaurants. 

The gold finish of the pot comes from a process called PVD that applies a super hard and long-wearing metallic coating to the steel that changes the color of the outer layer. The gold coloring is actually welded to the steel at a molecular level, giving it the benefits of being durable, rust-resistant, scratch-proof and, of course, food grade. 

Made to order for The Mala Market by artisans in Sichuan, this brass pot is a smaller version of the style used in upscale hotpot restaurants. Filled with soup and set over a fire, this pot becomes a richly glowing centerpiece for a special celebration. 

The streamlined design, brushed-matte brass and integrated handles provide both pleasing form and efficient function. And the substantial, sturdy weight and build mean it will last. The pot's bottom is lined on the underside with induction-compatible magnetic steel, so it can be used on induction or gas heat sources. 

We previously carried a two-compartment brass hotpot, which was gorgeous to be sure, but which, to tell you the truth, was a bit of a hassle. Because brass is a softer metal, the welding often showed up too prominently around the middle divider and where the handles are attached. We know that when you are purchasing a pricey artisan pot, you don't want blemishes and imperfections. 

That's why we have chosen a single-bowl pot as our new brass hotpot. There is no welding required on this beauty. (Actually, there is some welding on the underside where the steel plate is attached that makes it induction compatible. But the imperfections from that are all on the bottom!)

While Kathy is a big fan of the gold stainless steel pot, the minimalist brass pot will always be my favorite—and that is despite the fact that the hotpot soup can react with the brass and leave some discoloration. You can always polish the pot and restore it to its original gleam, or you can just use it as is, as upscale hotpot restaurants do. The patina of the natural brass is part of its charms. 

This is a smaller hotpot than our other models, less wide and less deep, and is perfect for 2 to 4 people, or for when you are using multiple pots to serve multiple broths.