Tea sets: types and secrets of choice

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

Any tea service is considered a symbol of home warmth, comfort and comfort. A beautiful bone china tea set first appeared many centuries ago in China, after which it was introduced to Europe and became a luxury item. At that time, elite sets 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 baking. Today, a classic tea service may consist of cups with a kettle, saucers, and sometimes milk jugs and glass sugar bowls.

All of the above items have certain characteristics.

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

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

• Teapot. It is equipped with a removable lid and is intended in the service for brewing tea. Kettles can be of different volume, which on average does not exceed 1 l.

• 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, the manufacturers pack it with milk jugs up to 300 ml.

• Sugar bowl. It is characterized by a small volume and is used for both bulk and bulk sugar. On sale are often unusual sets, in which the sugar bowl have fancy shapes, elegant handles on the sides and a small lid.

Tea sets can be designed for 6 or 12 people. There are also original sets for 2 and 4 people.intended for breakfast (they consist of a cup of medium size and a saucer tray), 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 a wedding. The sets, which are designed for six people, mainly buy families for daily use.

Often they are used in organizations and firms, where it is customary to hold meetings and meetings over a cup of tea. Such sets include only the most necessary items, they are additionally supplied with milk jugs and sugar bowls. The sets for 6 persons are made of various materials (glass, ceramics and porcelain), therefore the cost of them can be both low and high.

The sets for 12 persons differ from the first version in the number of saucers and cups. They are equipped with all the important dining details, as they are not intended for everyday use, but for ceremonial feasts. In addition, such sets can include up to 15 items. These sets are convenient in that only a part of the dishes can be used from their set, and with the arrival of the guests, the hostess will be “armed” to the fullest and nicely reserve the table from the common set. The only thing that is a minus in these services, the teapot has a small volume.

Many hostesses recently prefer to buy sets consisting of cups and saucers onlyas they consider the teapot outdated. To make a flavored and strong drink, they separately acquire thermopotwhich has many advantages over a thick-walled traditional teapot. Firstly, it has an original modern look (it is a glass flask), and secondly it is able to produce boiling water according to the immediate requirement.

Individual attention deserve Chinese tea sets, they are now the most popular. If you look at them, they will seem very simple. Chinese kits consist, as a rule, of two types of drinking bowls (the low ones are intended for drinking, and the high ones - for evaluating the aroma). In addition, the eastern service includes a gaiwan, which is a special container for brewing tea and a vessel (chahai), which is used to drain the prepared beverage.

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

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

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

• Glass. The sets of this material rank second in popularity after ceramics. Glass sets are characterized by versatility and aesthetics. Glass perfectly harmonizes with any textures and shades in the interior. In glass cups, tea openly demonstrates its pure color, which gives it individuality. Similar sets can be used both for celebrations and for everyday tea drinking.

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

When choosing a tea service, many people pay attention only to its style, without thinking about the fact that harmony between the shape and color of the cup plays an important role in achieving tea pleasure. For example, a white service is considered a classic option, and any drinks or food in its background 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 it is the most stylish and extravagant, many people unconsciously associate it with a mourning tone that dulls the general perception. Tea drunk from black cups will seem less strong, as its color will merge with a touch of the cup. Black sets are considered an original gift, in which case they perform a decorative function in the house.

• Yellow. Hot drink in yellow containers will seem more fragrant, which will further enhance the optimism and mood. Yellow sets are great for morning tea, as they allow you to receive a positive charge for the whole day. In addition, bright orange earthenware and porcelain have a relaxing, warm effect.

• Red. This color is aggressive, but it is capable of causing appetite. Despite the fact that the red tint stimulates the nervous system is not the best way, it is perfect for tea relaxation.

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

• Blue and blue. According to psychologists, the blue service can cause a spat over tea drinking. In addition, all shades of blue belong to a cold palette, so kits in such colors are not recommended when serving hot drinks.

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

Today, tea sets are presented on the market in a huge assortment, so when making a purchase, it is very difficult to make a choice in favor of one type or another. 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 the sets consisting of the following items:

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

In addition, in the service, the sugar bowl and the oiler are required items. Do not forget about the main component of the service - teapot. If the set is bought only for occasional use, then you can choose exquisite options from expensive ceramics, decorated with original decor.

For everyday use, tea sets for 6 persons are recommended, if the family is large, then for tea feasts it is best to buy a set for 12 persons. 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, 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, at her discretion, to use the components of the service, for example, in the morning take only cups, saucers and sugar bowl, and with the arrival of the guests put up all the items.

Great tea ceremony connoisseurs should also pay attention to the material from which the dishes are made, since the quality of the drink will depend on it. This may seem strange to many, but each type of tea has its own tableware material. It looks like this.

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

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

• Pu-erh and black teas you need to cook at a high temperature of water, this has a profound effect on the tea leaf. For these types of drink is best to give preference to ceramic sets. At the same time, in the winter and autumn you can use earthenware, clay, and in the summer - porcelain. To date, there are also commercially available glass sets in which teapots are equipped with special covers or a heating system.

• Herbal and fruit teas, containing roots, twigs, dried fruit, best of all amenable to brewing in faience or clay.

How to choose a tea set, see the next video.