With its exquisite appearance, light and transparent cup walls, and crisp sound, coupled with the "Kiss of the Crystal Cup", it resembles a dreamy and aloof queen, and it is the common crystal high footed cup we see. However, is it made of "glass" or "crystal"?

(1) Is a crystal cup really made of crystal?

In fact, the word "crystal" in a crystal cup comes from the Italian word "cristallo", which means a clear and transparent high footed cup made by imitating crystal. Crystal cups do not have the crystal structure of crystals and cannot be confused with gemstones, amethysts, etc.

(2) Characteristics of Crystal Cup

The reason why crystal cups are thin, transparent, and very dazzling under light is mainly due to the addition of minerals such as lead, magnesium, and barium during processing. The main mineral component of traditional crystal cups is lead, and different countries have different standards for lead content in crystal cups. Lead can increase the strength and brightness of crystal cups, so although the cup wall is thin, crystal cups are also relatively durable.

The main difference between crystal cups and glass cups is that crystal cups contain 2% -30% mineral content, while regular glass cups contain almost no other minerals. The main differences between crystal cups and glass cups are shown in the following figure:

It is worth mentioning that technological advancements have driven continuous innovation in tall glasses. For example, the emergence of lead-free crystal glasses has not only enriched the variety of wine glasses, but also reduced people's panic about "lead". Borosilicate glass has made up for the shortcomings of insufficient glass strength.

When choosing a wine glass, one should start from their own needs. In short, what suits them is the best. If you are used to using a dishwasher, you can choose glass cups or lead-free crystal cups; If you often break things, you can choose an economical glass cup; If you are fond of the special enjoyment of wine tasting, why not choose a crystal cup.