Choosing an English tea set for a quality tea time

Vintage and elegant, the English tea service can be made from three materials: porcelain, earthenware, or ceramic. White is very common as it is favoured for contrasting with the colour of tea or coffee. Your choice of service will depend mainly on the type of tea you drink (always with milk, according to English tradition). The most important thing is above all not to alter the quality of your favourite English drink.
English tea services in porcelain or earthenware are synonymous with English tradition. These pieces elevate the end of your meals or your afternoon tea times. In an old-fashioned style, the earthenware teapot will make your guests envious. Ceramic, a model somewhat further from British sophistication, still has its advantages.
To choose your English tea service, it is therefore important to take these criteria into account:

• Heat retention is more effective with an earthenware or ceramic tea service. Porcelain has very thin walls — with this service, tea should be enjoyed more quickly.
• Porcelain and earthenware services better preserve the taste and flavour of the tea.
• The English porcelain tea service is ideal for lighter teas such as green tea, yellow tea or white tea. While the ceramic service is better suited to strong teas such as black tea.

White and gold or patterned: how to choose your English tea service?

The English tea service suits all tastes:

• from the most classic, entirely white and simply adorned with gold trim;
• to the most vintage, adorned with floral motifs generally in pink.

The English tea service is sophisticated and decorative: you can choose it to match your interior or your tableware. A few criteria are nonetheless worth considering for a truly worthy English service:

• the English tea service is composed of an English teapot, cups and their saucers, a sugar bowl, a creamer and small spoons;
• feel free to complement it with a cake stand and a tray, cover your table with a white tablecloth and lace doilies for a respectable English tea time;
• the teapot, quintessentially British, is recognisable among all with its curved, long or mid-length spout;
• opt for cups that match your teapot and are not too large — keep it simple and elegant. You can also match your dessert plates to your tea service.

English tea had its golden age in the 19th century. It remains a staple of English culture today and graces tables all over the world, even in France. The essential elements to consider when choosing your English tea service are therefore your consumption habits and personal tastes. If you follow our advice, your table will be elegant, chic, vintage and sophisticated — enough to invite the Queen of England to your afternoon tea time. As long as you don't forget the saucers and above all, the creamer.

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