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A teacup & saucer.
The two go together much like peanut butter & jelly here in the states and clotted cream & jam on a scone in the UK (the order of which goes on top will forever be in debate ;)).
And while to the neophyte tea drinker, it may appear pretentious to use a teacup & saucer or at the very least unnecessary or perhaps extravagant, it is anything but.
This utilitarian combination provides simplicity in its functionality, as well as an encouragement to enjoy the present moment.
Let’s take a look at 14 ways why choosing to drink tea (or even espresso) out of a teacup & saucer is a worthwhile choice to make.
1.A coaster at the ready
An obvious one right out of the gate, but one that grants flexibility with where you choose to sit and enjoy your hot beverage. A teacup & saucer provides the safe resting spot for your teacup without worry of damaging any furniture.
2. Encouragement to slow down
Choosing a teacup & saucer over a travel mug invites us, no, encourages us, to find a spot to relax, be still and savor.
Sipping tea in the afternoon with savory and sweet nibbles may have been established by British royalty, but in our contemporary world that is all the more bustling and harried if we allow it, choosing a ritual, even a habit, that when we enjoy our tea we will pour it into a teacup & saucer, requires that we take a physical break from doing and instead just be. A very nourishing daily routine for our well-being.
3. An opportunity to merge beauty and function
The beauty and artistry available on teacups & saucers is endless, and what a wonderful truth that is. Just to gaze at a beautifully designed piece is to look at art. Admittedly, this makes it all the more difficult to choose which we will welcome into our cupboards and use in our everydays, but what a wonderful dilemma, no?
4. Pieces with stories contained within
As someone who has purchased far too many teacups & saucers at thrift shops and consignment boutiques, and thus had to whittle my selections down to fit cupboard space, but more truthfully, guarantee of usage, once I began choosing pieces that symbolized something memorable to me, I became able to appreciate the beauty of all of them all the more, easily not purchase and only window shop, but also know which ones would be a part of my tea cupboard.
5. Prevent having to hold a hot cup in our hands (if too hot too hold)
While sometimes indeed holding a hot cup of warm liquid is desired to warm our body up on a cold day, the assurance that we can hold a hot cup of tea without burning our hands provides a peace of mind. Because like many of you, I like my tea quite hot. ☺️
6. Provide stability and prevent spills
Again, a smart design that looks fancy, but is grounded in sensibility. Nobody wants to spill not only a hot liquid, but a staining liquid on their clothes or fabrics and furniture, and the saucer provides that base complete with a notched spot exactly sized for the accompanying teacup.
7. Perfect as a work companion
Whether due to having a variety of items – books, notepads, just things on my desk, knowing I can trust that I won’t spill my tea, and that it is within arm’s reach to be enjoyed because I can place it anywhere due to its sturdiness, is a simple luxury that is actually a necessity I treasure.
The work day hasn’t officially begun until I have poured my teacup with English Breakfast tea, placed it in its saucer and then next to the workspace I find myself.
8. Historically, the saucer was meant to hold the tea (for a moment)
While this practice is no longer in practice, it wasn’t long ago that the saucer (which originally was just that originating from China, a plate to hold sauce and having nothing to do with tea) would be a place to pour a bit of the tea (from the cup) into. Why would they do this? Due to the increased surface area, this would cool the tea more quickly as tea used to be served extremely hot. Sipping the tea from the saucer was common practice and encouraged (and understood), so that the tea could be enjoyed without waiting too long for it to cool.
The sipping from the saucer was considered “more efficient — and actually considered more polite — to drink coffee from a saucer first rather than trying to carefully sip it while it was hot” (source).
9. The tea’s full flavor is experienced
If you are sipping tea from a porcelain teacup, which is finer in its design, fellow tea lover and utilizer of a teacup & saucer Liz Steel (illustrator) shares that “there are scientific reasons [that the tea tastes better in porcelain] – the china is smoother and a thinner rim means the tea gets to the tongue quickly increasing the taste . . . [also]. fine china retains the heat longer.”
10. Keep the tea hotter longer
To continue off the last point above, fine china retains heat better than other materials. And regardless of which material you are using, if you have had the chance to enjoy tea at an establishment that warms up the teacup & saucer before serving, the reason they are doing this is so that the heat of the tea, not touching the table it will be set, due to having the saucer, will retained the hot temperature for longer than had it touched the cooler surface of the table.
11. A reminder to eat more slowly
Pairing a hot cuppa with a dessert to conclude the meal is my go-to preferred drink of choice, and when we pair our food with tea, just as sipping tea all by itself slows us down, it also slows down how quickly we eat our dessert, thus savoring it all the more (and not overindulging).
12. A helpful place to hold a biscuit
Speaking of nibbling on something sweet, the saucer also provides the place for our biscuit or small snack to rest in between bites and dunks. ☺️
13. A reminder to take time for yourself
Each of the images shared in today’s post were captured during my travels or in my everyday life. And all but three of the moments reflect a time I carved out an opportunity to be in my own company (Claridge’s afternoon tea and the chocolate cake pairing was enjoyed with my mother’s company, the latter while we stayed in Kent countryside at The Pig, and The Ritz tea was enjoyed with TOP Tier Members in London in 2023). For all of the reasons referencing slowing down, I know that when I pour myself a hot cuppa tea and choose a teacup & saucer, any rushing I may be doing will be reduced or eliminated. I also savor that opportunity to hold something so beautiful while sipping something so thoughtfully made to give the flavors of whichever harvest of leaves I have chosen. I am not alone in that I am great company all on my own.
14. Deepens our appreciation in simple, small things
The size of something does not negate or diminish its immense depth of what it offers. The British are, as we know, not the only ones to appreciate a moment to sip and savor tea. The ritual of doing so is often an opportunity for reflection and to deepen awareness of the present moment. The winding walk through the garden to the tea house in Japanese culture is to prepare the mind and body for the tea ceremony itself – to detach from the outside world, to reflect and thus deepen appreciation, ultimately bringing us to be fully present when we arrive to sit, sip and be.
The Garden of the Year at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara, “Cha no Nita — Japanese Tea Garden” exhibits this aesthetic beautifully along with the tea house to engage fully while gazing on the tranquil natural space.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post, and if you haven’t felt comfortable using a teacup & saucer or don’t have teacups & saucers at the ready in your home to enjoy your tea, I hope today’s post encourages you to do so, as it really is a way to deepen our contentment as we slow down life even if for a moment, as well as keep our clothes and furniture clean ☺️.
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Interesting post. I had thought of saucers only as a convenient place to rest a spoon or a small treat but there is a lot more to it. Happy British Week.☔️
I too was tickled to learn a bit more about the historical journey of the addition of the saucer. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by Judy.
I know exactly what you’re saying and I have many beautiful teacups and saucers from my grandma and my Canadian great aunts but I always reach for my Emma Bridgewater half pint mugs. It’s me and I love them; the birds and the flowers. They are always my go to for coffee or tea. I don’t see it changing but I always appreciate your suggestions. Cherie Iverson
To honor what brings you comfort and enjoyment is a nourishing thing indeed. And aren’t Bridgewater mugs delightful? I too have a couple and completely understand. 🙂
Love this! Ever so thoughtful and insightful. Who would have thought that the humble saucer could be so important?! Wish you a great day ahead 🙂
Edel,
The more and more we think about enduring design, while often the beauty ‘grabs the headline’ so to speak, so often, it is the duality of serving a purpose that ensures it longevity, and then the artistry can grow, expand and express creativity unique to each artisan. I too enjoyed learning more about the history of this seemingly simple pairing and tickled to share with you here this week. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
Thank you for this timely post. My 92 year old mother passed away on March 2 and today as my sister and I started going through her collections we took the time to appreciate her collection of teapots and tea cups and saucers. And most of them are beautiful porcelain sets. She cherished them all and began her collection of them after she tragically lost her own mother at the tender age of nine. She often talked about going to actual tea parties with her mother at her mother’s friends’ homes and how grown up she felt being a part of them. My sister and I will take some special ones and distribute others to the grandkids and great grandkids so they can have a special memory of their “Memaw” and we will encourage them to use the to make every day feel special for all the reasons you mentioned.
I am so sorry for your loss . What a lovely story. ❤️
PKB,
Please accept my condolences. I am sorry for the death of your mother. What a beautiful way to hold treasured memories in the teacups & saucers she kept. May you and your sister find comfort and celebration as you go through her collections. What a wonderful idea to distribute these to her family as well as holding on to the ones for yourselves that will be so much more than a teacup & saucer.
Thank you for your comment and sending you love as you navigate the waves of grief. May you take care of yourself as you need. xoxo
My sincere condolences and love to you and your family, PKB. Many thanks for sharing such beautiful memories with us and what a lovely way to share and honor your dear mother’s memory throughout the extended family.🤍
Dear PKB, I am so sorry for your loss. At 92 years of age, she must have had many stories to share, particularly about tea parties. I also have a rather large collection of tea pots, cups, and paraphernalia. I am not sure where they will go when I am no longer using them, but I do hope that someone will appreciate the wonderful gifts they each impart. My friends and I regularly visit local tea houses and Victorian parlors reconfigured for tearooms. We also rotate to each of our homes for Sunday afternoon Sip and Stitch. We bring our current needlework projects and enjoy a warm and friendly afternoon sharing life’s stories and our dreams for the future. Certain subjects are not permitted, and that keeps the afternoons so pleasant. May the gifts of your mother’s collection be precious to all who receive them.
I enjoyed reading this post. A great way to enjoy, relax, and feel special all at once. Thanks much.
You are welcome Debra 🙂 Wishing you many moments to relax and savor the moment with a delicious cup of tea.
My dream post about teacups, thank you! I learned a lot. Now I can use my saucer for my asian dishes too, for the sauce and as a chopsticks rest.
Absolutely! Wahoo! Their original purpose. 🙂 I too had not know about their origination story. So tickled to have learned and been able to share. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by Véronique! Have a wonderful day. 🙂
So restorative is a Cup of Tea. “When you feel weary a cup of tea will make you cheery”. There’s so much more to it than meets the eye. Everything stops for tea was the famous ditty for factory workers to take a tea break at 4pm .( productivity increased after it’s introduction) In Britain we always make time for a Cuppa. Entering someone’s house and you’ll be told
“the kettle’s on or I’ll just pop the kettle on
There is the famous song” Everything stops for tea” by John Buchanan a Scottish actor who starred in the show’ Come out of the Pantry’. It’s a delightful song and explains perfectly why we British love a cuppa. Indeed my English class here in France is titled ‘A Cup of Tea’. When I was little we drank Red Rose tea and there were illustrated cards in the packets between 1940-1980. I collected them and now they’re quite valuable but mine disappeared a long time ago unfortunately .
George Orwell even wrote an Essay on the rules of Tea drinking. He had eleven . One of them being should the milk be poured first or after. An ongoing debate. When I have milk in mine first thing in the morning I pour mine in first as the amount is better regulated. As a child in a warm climate my mother cooled the tea by pouring the tea from one enamelled mug into another at a height. It was quite mesmerising to watch as it needed a bit of skill to keep it in the mugs. In fact in India you’ll see this at the food stalls in the street.When holding the teacup fingers should be curled inwards despite popular belief abroad.I’ll end with this “Shall I be mother”? Mother is the tea pourer not necessarily one’s mother. Ooh nearly tea time!😀. Enjoy clinking your teacups. Kameela😍
I love your information on tea and some of the history behind it. I remember Red Rose Tea growing up, and how it could soothe jangled feelings. The herbal teas were common in my family, and I still fall back on them today.
Thank you Valerie. Fancy that. There wssn’t much choice back then. Kameela😍
The famous saying in our home has always been “That there is no problem, big or small, that cannot be handled over a cup of tea.” I remember this from childhood, when my grandmother would light the pot if anyone entered with a dour expression. These days my electric kettle usually does that job, however, it is always on or off, no sweet simmer for that girl. I purchased an item of Kitchen Jewelry to park on the back burner. It was something I considered for years and finally broke down during the pandemic. She is a beauty, A Mackenzie-Child floral enamel pot with a crystal knob on top. She simmers in the background most days and makes me happy. Even in the heat of summer, I make time for tea.
Shannon–this entry was not only informative but an invitation to me to slow down and enjoy your ritual. I also loved the illustrations and photographs as well. Thank-you.
Wanted to share with you the HGTV show Castle Impossible. In PA it airs at 9:00 p.m. every Tuesday evening and is such a delight. It involves renovating a chateau outside of Paris. You might enjoy it. It is a series of episodes.
Best,
Robin K.
I LOVE that show. I am a history buff, and enjoy the architecture of the time.
Oh Robin, thanks for the reminder. Also, a Pa. girl, I will need to set a reminder for that one. I saw the first episode then it sort of dropped off my radar.
Using a teacup and saucer is a must for me! At my daughter’s recent bridal shower (tea party theme), I sourced beautiful teacups and saucers for every guest not only enjoy their tea, but also to take home and enjoy! They were a big hit!
Oh Maureen, what a fantastic idea!
Such a restorative practice – thank you for sharing, Shannon!
Hi Shannon, really enjoyed reading this post this morning. I typically drink my tea from a mug but now will begin my search for a nice teacup – I think it’s time! Thanks for the inspiration!
Love this post Shannon! I am a huge collector of tea cups and saucers. Like you mentioned in point #3, they are a work of art!
And don’t you just love the little ‘tink’ sound that happens every time you place a cup back in its’ saucer 😉
Loved all of this, Shannon thank you. The history, original purpose, modern benefits, photo vignettes, all lovely.
I also use teatime as an opportunity to get creative and mix and match my pieces for an artistic and unique “tableau”, pot, cup and saucer, plate, napkin, etc. Very fun and rewarding, then time to savor!
A late afternoon pause for tea is a go to for me and choosing which tea cup is part of the pleasure. Tea cups are my souvenir of choice traveling to other countries and so far all have arrived home intact.
A wonderful idea Sara. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this. And glad they have been brought home without a crack! 🙂
Dear Shannon,
Thank-you for this lovely post. I whole heartedly agree. I would also like to add that a pot of loose tea brewed in a china tea pot and poured through a little strainer is the best way to enjoy the perfect cup of tea. 🫖☕️
Agreed! 🙂 Thank you for sharing that detail that makes a wonderful difference to savoring the tea’s full flavors. 🙂
Oh, this post was such an inspiration, I just had to share! I made a quick scan of my office and gathered the finds: a bright yellow lidless mini teapot (Price & Kensington picked up for a steal as it’s missing the lid) and a little cup and saucer (that I may or may not have liberated from a first-class airline a few years back). Now I’m about ready to pour and savor a few minutes of soothing video between reading and reports. Such a fun addition to the day! Best, Meg
Sounds absolutely lovely Meg! Thank you for painting this image of consciously slowing down, relaxing and just being. 🙂 Tickled you enjoyed the post. Thank you for your comment.
I grew up in a family of coffee drinkers but even so, in the early years at least, the coffee was served in a cup with its accompanying saucer. (Tea, of course, being served iced.) And I do remember my older relatives(great-aunts and such) pouring a bit in the saucer to cool it. Then suddenly mugs were ubiquitous, except with the old guard, where cup and saucer still reigned supreme. Choosing a cup and saucer set over a mug is, as you say Shannon, choosing to savor, not just the beverage, but the moment, the artistry/memory of the cup and saucer, and it’s a moment to gather oneself, clear the wooly brain, and enjoy a well-deserved chance to just breathe. And I love choosing my teacups according to mood and type of tea. Lovely post, thank you, Shannon.