Tea Sets and Tea Pots

Tea is enjoyed by many cultures across the world and you can make afternoon tea or a tea party even more special by using beautiful tea sets and tea pots. Tea sets usually consist of a tea pot, at least one tea cup and saucer, and usually a sugar bowl and milk jug. Some sets also come with matching trays to arrange everything on beautifully.

The tea set originated in China, where the first tea cups and bowls were made from porcelain. The first tea pots were also invented in China and fired from unglazed clay. There are now different types of tea sets available from all over the world. Japanese tea sets, silver tea sets and children’s tea sets are just some of the examples we can choose to enjoy tea from today, as well as the traditional porcelain tea sets.

photo by emueses on flickr

England is famous for being a nation of tea drinkers and also for inventing the institution we know as Afternoon Tea. This custom started in the 17th century and was commonly enjoyed by upper class families between the hours of 3pm and 5pm. A tea set is essential for a proper afternoon tea, which usually includes cups of tea served with milk and sugar, sandwiches, scones and cakes or biscuits. Formal afternoon tea is still served by high class hotels all over the world and is a great treat – but why not enjoy your own version of afternoon tea at the weekend with your very own tea set.

A tea party is another great way to enjoy tea socially. Traditionally tea parties were held by rich families, using their best tea pots and usually a silver tea set. In today’s modern times, holding a tea party is a great alternative celebration for any occasion and has become a popular activity for birthdays and baby showers.
Tea really does taste better when drunk from a pretty cup and we could all add a little magic to our lives by taking ten minutes out from our busy day to relax and enjoy a quality tea perhaps with a slice of cake or biscuit or two. Tea sets are great for weekends of when you have company but if you’re just enjoying tea time with your family or a close friend, you probably won’t want to get the whole tea set out. Tea pots are a great way to serve tea in any setting, they keep the tea warm and the action of sharing a pot is more social than serving individual cups of tea. If you’re just enjoying a cup on your own then why not conside a tea for one set?
A glass tea pot is a popular modern version of the traditional tea pot and can look very attractive filled with golden tea. You can also monitor the color of the tea and take the tea leaves or tea bag out when the tea has reached its desired strength. For something a little more traditional, you might want to consider a cast iron tea pot. These are traditionally used in Japan, look beautiful and will last for many years. There are many other options available, whether your preference is antique tea pots or modern electric tea pots.
So please grab a cup of tea to enjoy while you browse through this site. Whether you’re looking for fancy bone china tea sets or just a ceramic tea pot, you’re sure to find it at Tea Sets and Tea Pots!