Tea sets: types and secrets of choice

Tea drinking is considered to be the most popular ritual, since during it you can not only enjoy the taste of a hot drink, but also have a relaxed chat with friends or just sit in a close family circle. For such pleasant moments to remain in your memory for a long time, beautiful tea sets are used to serve tea. These accessories are presented on the market in a huge assortment and differ among themselves by the material of manufacture, number of items and style.

Any tea service is considered a symbol of home warmth, comfort and coziness. A beautiful tea set made of bone china first appeared many centuries ago in China, after which it was brought to Europe and became an item emphasizing luxury. Elite sets in those days consisted of both main items and were supplemented with various attributes in the form of bowls for sugar, vases for jam and trays for dessert spoons and plates for pastries. Today, a classic tea service can consist of cups with a teapot, saucers, and sometimes milk jug and sugar bowl made of glass.

All of the above items have certain characteristics.

• Cups. They are bowls with a volume of 200 to 250 ml, mounted on a low leg, having a flat bottom and a graceful handle. Due to the wide surface of the bowls, hot drinks cool quickly in them.

• Saucer. These are miniature plates, the diameter of which is up to 15 cm. They owe their appearance to the British, who invented them in order not to stain their clothes and tablecloth with spilled tea. Therefore, when during the tea ceremony the cup was not held over the table, but over the knees, then the saucer must have been in the other hand.These mini-plates can have different shapes, square saucers are very popular. There are also original options that are usually included in the gift set.

• Kettle. It is equipped with a removable lid and is designed in a tea brewing set. Kettles can be of various volumes, which on average does not exceed 1 liter.

• Milkman. Since many people like to drink tea with cream or milk, so that during tea drinking they harmoniously fit into the overall style of the service, manufacturers complete it with milk with a volume of up to 300 ml.

• Sugar Bowl. It is characterized by a small volume and is used for both loose and lump sugar. Unusual sets are often found on sale, in which sugar bowls have fancy shapes, graceful handles on the sides and a small lid.

Tea sets can be designed for both 6 and 12 people. There are also original sets for 2 and 4 personsintended for breakfast (they consist of a medium-sized cup and a tray-saucer), and the so-called tea pairs, represented by two cups and a pair of saucers. Such a white ceramic set can be presented to the newlyweds for the wedding. Kits for six people are mostly bought by families for daily use.

Often they are used at organizations and in firms where it is customary to hold meetings and meetings over a cup of tea. Such services include only the most necessary items, in addition they are equipped with milk jug and sugar bowls. Services for 6 people are made of various materials (glass, ceramics and porcelain), therefore their cost can be both low and high.

Services for 12 people differ from the first option in the number of saucers and cups. They are equipped with all the important dining details, as they are not intended for daily use, but for solemn feasts. Additionally, up to 15 items can be included in such sets. These services are convenient in that only part of the dishes can be used from their set, and with the arrival of guests the hostess will be “armed” to the full and beautifully set the table from the general set. The only thing that is a minus in these sets, the teapot has a small volume.

Many hostesses recently prefer to buy sets consisting only of cups and saucers, since they consider the teapot morally obsolete. To prepare a fragrant and strong drink, they separately purchase thermal sweat, which over a thick-walled traditional teapot has many advantages. Firstly, it has an original modern look (it is a glass flask), and secondly it is capable of dispensing boiling water according to the short-term requirement.

They deserve special attention chinese tea setsThey are now the most popular. If you consider them, they will seem very simple. Chinese sets usually consist of two types of bowls (low are for drinking and high are for evaluating aroma). In addition, the eastern services include gaiwan, which is a special container for brewing tea and a vessel (chahai), which is used to drain the prepared drink.

To date, tea sets are presented in a wide range, and they all differ not only in the number of items, design, but also in the material from which they are made. In order to fully enjoy a fragrant drink, you should choose sets from quality material. Any vessel, whether it is a teapot or a cup, has unique physical properties that set a specific tone for the processes taking place inside.Therefore, the same kind of tea brewed in different containers can have a different taste.

Most often, tea sets are made of the following materials.

• Ceramics. Ceramic tea sets are the most common. The word "ceramics" is understood to mean products made of clay, faience and porcelain. Faience is considered too fragile (a miniature chip on its surface can cause instant destruction of the product), porcelain ware has increased strength, but it requires a careful attitude. As for clay, this is a traditional material that is not stronger than earthenware, but in comparison with previous materials it can give special comfort.

• Glass. Services made of this material take second place in popularity after ceramics. Glass sets are characterized by versatility and aesthetics. Glass is in perfect harmony with any textures and shades in the interior. In glass cups, tea openly demonstrates its pure color, which gives it personality. Similar services can be used both for celebrations and for everyday tea parties.

• Metal. Tea sets made of this material also find their application, although they do not meet the traditional canons of tea ceremonies. There are on sale both exquisite and expensive silver sets, as well as affordable stainless steel options (they are mainly purchased for offices). Metal tea sets are indispensable on the go, they are equipped with cups and a thermos, which serves as a teapot.

When choosing a tea service, many pay attention only to its style, without thinking that the harmony between the shape and color of the cup plays a huge role in achieving tea drinking pleasure. For example, a white service is considered a classic option, and any drinks or food against it will seem more appetizing. In addition, in a white cup, tea acquires a delicate aroma and taste. As for the other colors, they have the following characteristics.

• The black. Despite the fact that he is the most stylish and extravagant, subconsciously, many associate him with a mourning shade, which dulls the general perception. Tea drunk from black cups will seem less strong, as its color will merge with the shade of a cup. Black sets are considered an original gift, in which case they perform a decorative function in the house.

• Yellow. A hot drink in yellow containers will seem more aromatic, which will further increase optimism and mood. Yellow sets are great for morning tea drinking, as they allow you to get a positive charge for the whole day. In addition, bright orange earthenware and porcelain have a warming effect.

• Red. This color is aggressive, but it can cause appetite. Despite the fact that the red tint does not stimulate the nervous system in the best way, it is perfect for tea relaxation.

• Green. In dishes of this color, food and drinks look inedible and inexpressive. Therefore, if the hostess is very fond of green, it is recommended to purchase services in which the green tint is diluted with light patterns or a gold border.

• Blue and blue. According to psychologists, the blue service is able to cause a confusion over tea drinking. In addition, all shades of blue belong to the cold palette, so sets in this color are not recommended when serving hot drinks.

• Pink. It is considered the most romantic and suitable color for tea drinking. He positively tunes, encourages inner contemplation and pacifies.

Today, tea sets are presented on the market in a huge assortment, so when buying it is very difficult to make a choice in favor of this or that kind.Before you go shopping, it is important to determine the purpose of the dishes: whether it will be used in everyday life or only for special occasions. In the first case, it is necessary to give preference to sets consisting of the following items:

• saucers and cups;
• plates;
• dishes for cream or milk jug;
• dishes for the cake.

In addition, a sugar bowl and a nipple are considered to be mandatory items in the service. Do not forget about the main component of the service - a teapot. If the kit is bought only for occasional use, you can choose exquisite options from expensive ceramics, decorated with original decor.

For everyday use, tea sets for 6 people are recommended, if the family is large, then for tea feasts it is best to buy a service designed for 12 people. In the case when the service is purchased as a gift, you can choose chic sets for 16 people.

If we consider the purchase of a tea service from an economic point of view, then it is best to immediately choose one large and high-quality set, consisting of a huge number of items. Thus, the hostess will be able to use the components of the service at her discretion, for example, in the morning to take only cups, saucers and sugar bowls, and with the arrival of the guests exhibit all the items.

Great connoisseurs of the tea ceremony should pay attention to the material from which the dishes are made, since the quality of the drink will depend on this. This will seem strange to many, but each sort of tea has its own tableware material. This is as follows.

• Yellow, white, green teas on a floral and herbal basis require long-term maintenance of temperature, after which they acquire a refined aroma and taste. For such varieties, it is recommended to buy sets of fine porcelain or glass.

• Oolong It is considered medium fermentation tea, so it takes time to prepare it to show all its taste. In this case, Chinese sets made of high-quality porcelain and Yixing clay are well suited.

• Puer and black teas you need to cook at high water temperature, due to this there is a profound effect on the tea leaf. For these types of drink, it is best to give preference to ceramic sets. In this case, in winter and autumn, you can use earthenware, clay, and in the summer - porcelain. Today, there are also universal glass services for sale in which the teapots are equipped with special covers or a heating system.

• Herbal and fruit teas, containing in its composition roots, twigs, dried fruits, are best brewed in faience or clay.

See how to choose a tea service in the next video.