Tea Sets

Tea Cups / Tea Mugs

Tea Cups

The history of tea goes as far back as 2737 BC. As one legend goes, Shen Nung, the second emperor of China, accidentally discovered tea leaves as they blew into his cup of boiling water. Tea drinking has come a long way since then and so have the cups that the drink is savored in.

Tea cups are used for purposes that are both practical and decorative. Long before the English made it their popular custom to drink tea, in cultures such as the Japanese, tea drinking was a ritual. This was called as ‘chanoyu’ and is followed even to this day. Tea cups made of porcelain, glass, lacquer or clay are used for these ceremonies. Such tea cups were made popular by the Chinese who even used tea sets made of jade and crystal for boasting about their wealth and luxury.

The many varieties of tea cups available today is impressive. There are tea cups to cater to every element of detail that one can imagine.

Plastic or clay tea cups are the most economical choices. Plastic tea cups are used often while traveling and are easily disposable. Clay tea cups are popular to use while traveling since they can be disposed of easily and are also biodegradable.

To add a dimension of functionality there are insulated tea cups to keep the cup of tea hot for a long time. Today’s ultra-modern electric tea cups are for the fast-paced. These tea cups only require a plug point and the tea can be prepared and consumed from the same cup. The beverage is made by heating it with electricity using any electric point.

If one is to consider the specific reasons for tea drinking, various types of tea cups can be put to use. For those who prefer making tea drinking a leisurely and tradition-bound ritual, the Chinese ‘gaiwan’ made of porcelain with beautiful work on it would be a good option. To add a personal touch and aesthetic value, tea cups can be custom-made using materials such as platinum and gold with intricate designs on them. These are for the most part used for decorative purposes.

Tea cups come in all sizes and for all ages. For the young and even the the young at heart, there are Alice in Wonderland tea cups that take you back to the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Lewis Carroll’s book. Little girls often have tea parties for their dolls that also have an array of tiny tea cups. Such theme based cups are unlimited. Tea cups even tell stories through the pictures drawn or painted on them. History and art also find their way onto tea cups in the form of the Last Supper or Leonardo da Vinci’s Monalisa.

The designing and production of tea cups has been given new life due to the emergence of computer aided manufacturing, although some of the best tea cups are still hand made. Manufacturers are abuntant but the perfect tea cup like its contents embodies the seamless blending of taste and comfort.