Choosing an English tea set for a quality tea time

Vintage and elegant, the English tea set can be made of three materials: porcelain, earthenware, or ceramic. If white is very common, it's because it's preferred to contrast with the color of tea or coffee. Your choice of set will mainly depend on the type of tea you consume (always with milk according to English tradition). The most important thing is not to alter the quality of your favorite English beverage.
English tea sets in porcelain or earthenware are synonymous with English tradition. These pieces elevate the end of your meals or your afternoon tea times. With its antique style, the earthenware teapot will be envied by your guests. Ceramic, a model a bit further from British sophistication, still has its advantages.
To choose your English tea set, it is therefore important to consider these criteria:

• Heat retention is more effective with earthenware or ceramic tea sets. Porcelain has very thin walls, with this type of set, tea is consumed more quickly.
• Porcelain and earthenware sets better preserve the taste and flavor of the tea.
• The porcelain English tea set is ideal for lighter teas such as green tea, yellow tea, or white tea. While the ceramic set is more suitable for strong teas like black tea.

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

The English tea set adapts to all tastes:

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

The English tea set is sophisticated and decorative: you can choose it based on your interior decor or your tableware. However, there are a few criteria to consider for a proper English tea set:

• the English tea set consists of an English teapot, cups and their saucers, a sugar bowl, a creamer, and small spoons;
• don't hesitate to add 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 recognizable with its curved spout, long or medium-long;
• 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 set.

English tea had its heyday in the 19th century. It is still an essential part of English culture today and is invited to tables all over the world, even in France. The essential elements to consider when choosing your English tea set are therefore your consumption 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. Provided you don't forget the saucers and most importantly, the creamer.

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