High quality terracotta jug. Must be treated with care as does all coarse unglazed pottery! It is made from clay, not diamonds! Proper treatment is crucial for getting optimal usage from this pot. Water has been stored in clay vessels of this fashion for 15,000 years prior to the oldest dates set for the writing of the bible, the technology is what it is. Due to the unglazed nature of the clay, water will sweat through and evaporate cooling the jug. This is great as it keeps the water inside cooler than the air. Practically this means your water will always be cooler than the ambient air temperature (unless you have AC then obviously the evaporatove process will be slowed). It is difficult to stop clay tasting like clay. Eventually with much use this jug will season like a cast iron pan and will taste less like earth. Treat it well, use it properly, and just use a non-cooling porcelain pot if you cannot stand the slight flavor of clay in your water.