You love tea and the idea of throwing tea parties or simply of sharing in the pleasure of tea drinking with friends and family and would like to buy a tea set in order to do that, but are not exactly sure what you want, need and what your options are. Picking a tea set is a matter of taste above all else, and of course, of functionality, so these are the things you must keep in mind when choosing a set. Tea sets can be made in various styles, either modern or with a vintage feel or Asian inspired, but whichever the case, you must think of your needs and the kind of tea you are looking to serve.
The three main kinds of tea sets you will find will be either the ones reminiscing Victorian tea ware, the more modern, Asian inspired designs, somewhat simple and abstract, usually boasting geometrical shapes, Asian calligraphy or symbolism, or the more traditional Asian inspired designs, either illustrating scenes of Asian mythology or other such imagery. Of course, there are far more types of tea sets out there, but the aforementioned are the three major influences in tea ware today. Of late, there has been an emergence of the transparent tea pots as a result of the increase in popularity of blooming tea.
Whichever style of tea ware you choose to go for, be it one of the above mentioned or not, you must remember that in this case, as in many others related to style, less can certainly be more. It's very easy to fall into the trap of the debatably tasteful with tea sets because of the overwhelming number of offers of over the top, tacky tea ware. The overly ornate tea cups and teapots will not do you any favors, and it takes a lot of skill to be able to pull off some of the sets available out there. It's good to remember, when buying, that the cup should take nothing away from the tea drinking experience, but should in fact add to it.
Tea sets usually come in the form of a tea pot, sugar pot, creamer and two, four, six or more (usually in even numbers) cups and their saucers, but there are many exceptions to this rule, especially when it comes to the presence of the sugar and cream bowls within the set. Of course, there are also one person tea sets that usually come in a cup-teapot-saucer combination.
Something to also keep in mind when choosing a set is the kind of tea you prefer serving. If you are a "regular tea" drinker, you might go for a more traditional set, whereas if you enjoy Japanese tea, you might be better served in purchasing a set that is more suitable in style to it. At the end of the day, though, it all comes down to what you feel comfortable with, since the most important thing when spending money on something is to be happy with that purchase.
To learn more about the equipment needed to brew Loose Leaf Tea and how to use it, see out Tea Equipment section
Shop for Loose Tea, Teapots, and Accessories in our Loose Tea Shop
You love tea and the idea of throwing tea parties or simply of sharing in the pleasure of tea drinking with friends and family and would like to buy a tea set in order to do that, but are not exactly sure what you want, need and what your options are. Picking a tea set is a matter of taste above all else, and of course, of functionality, so these are the things you must keep in mind when choosing a set. Tea sets can be made in various styles, either modern or with a vintage feel or Asian inspired, but whichever the case, you must think of your needs and the kind of tea you are looking to serve.
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