Jam from berries and fruits has long been a popular dessert among East Slavic peoples, residents of the Baltic states and the population of Transcaucasia. For a beautiful serving of this sweet dish on the table, there is a special small saucer, which is called a socket. Jam before the feast is usually served in a special vase, and from it to shift into small sockets with an elegant curly spoon. Now for sale there are jam saucers, very diverse in their shape and size.
Variety of shapes
Jam outlets most often have a classic shape. It means saucers made in the form of round bowls or saucers of square or rectangular shape with rounded corners. But, besides such a standard look, you can find this dish, for example, in the form of an open flower bud. Graceful and multi-functional saucers that look like wide-open shells of the sea shell. At the celebration, sockets in the form of small crystal goblets are very appropriate and spectacular.
Pros and Cons of Materials
The most common basis for the production of this type of tableware are porcelain, crystal, glass and plastic. Each of them has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.
China
Such jam outlets are elegant and durable, they retain the taste of the product and all the vitamins, as they do not form oxides. It is recommended to wash them with non-hot water without the use of chemicals. Saucers can be made from different types of porcelain using various technologies.
For example, underglaze cobalt is applied to dishes with bright painting. Sockets with a white-blue ornament are made using cobalt oxide, which at saturated temperatures takes on saturated shades.
Porcelain saucers for jam of pale pink color are obtained by firing a pale red dye. For monochrome options, yellow, green and blue shades are most often used.
The strength of porcelain is determined by the amount of kaolin in it: the more it is, the stronger the dishes.
Crystal
Jam saucers made from this material have an exquisite appearance. They beautifully refract light in their faces, are transparent and emit a pleasant melodic ringing when you touch their walls with a spoon. Very effectively in such sockets on the festive table, in addition to jam, caviar, honey, jams look.
But remember that Crystal glassware requires delicate care, and special tools must be used to give shine.
Glass
As a result of using new production technologies, modern glassware has become durable and heat-resistant; it can be washed with chemical detergents. Glass sockets are inexpensive and practical, they do not absorb odors.
Plastic
Jam outlets made of food-grade plastic are not harmful to human health if they are not labeled melamin. This chemical contains deadly formaldehyde. Plastic dishes are popular because of their low cost. Such outlets are practical and easy to care for. It is convenient to take disposable saucers made of plastic with you outside the city for a picnic or for traveling.
Sets
Outlets can be part of a tea service or sold individually. There are also sets of jam saucers that are designed for normal use every day or served on the festive table. The former look simpler and more modest, while the latter are spectacular and sophisticated.
Typically, the kit includes from 2 to 12 (sometimes 19) outlets of the same or different volume. In expensive sets there are small spoons for each saucer.
Currently, there is a very large selection of sets of jam outlets of various shapes, sizes and colors, so it’s easy to choose a set of dishes that will suit the design of your kitchen or living room.
Popular manufacturers
The most famous brands that produce jam outlets are several companies.
- Lefard. This Chinese brand is in great demand among connoisseurs of white bone china products and is the world's largest manufacturer of china. Outlets of the Lefard England Collection brand are produced both for everyday life and for festive receptions. Saucers are decorated with graceful images of animals and floral ornaments. They can be sold with and without spoons, sets and separately.
- Thun. Czech porcelain is always a high quality dish: it is light, thin, has a noble whiteness, and is environmentally friendly. In addition, the sockets of this company are characterized by a variety of shapes and sizes.
- Noritake This world-famous Japanese brand produces milk-white bone china of an original design. Sockets for jam, like all dishes of this brand, are decorated with exquisite paintings by talented Japanese artists.
- Crystalite bohemia. A well-known company from the Czech Republic, which is a manufacturer of glass and crystal glassware. Outlets of this brand are inherent in excellent quality, increased strength, they can be washed in a dishwasher. All dishes of this brand are made of safe material - crystallite.
- Isfahan Glass. This is an Iranian dish made of borosilicate glass. At first glance, it differs little from crystal products. Sockets for jam have a stable bottom, transparent, beautifully refract the light. In addition, they are sold in individually colorful packaging.
How to choose?
In order to choose high-quality and safe sockets for jam, use the advice of specialists.
- Carefully consider which saucers you need: for daily use or for special occasions. Ideally, you should have both.
- Get such a set of sockets that will harmoniously fit into your interior.
- The dishes are white or beige in color, classic and suitable for any situation.
- Carefully inspect sockets for chips, cracks, or other defects.
- Saucers with a painting should have a clear, ungreased pattern.
- Be sure to ask the seller to show a certificate for the goods to be sure of the safety of the dishes.
Sockets for jam are very convenient and do not take up much space. They are a universal tableware in which you can beautifully serve not only jam, but also caviar, olives, cold snacks.
See the next video for the secrets of making beautiful and delicious jam.
