Bone China Teacup or an Earthenware Mug?

This is something that crossed my mind months ago and I wrote a post but cannot find it anywhere and it doesn’t appear to have been published. So here we go,  my granny used to say, “everything has its place” and I think this applies in this case.

How many of you whether working in the garden, shed, greenhouse or garage, have always replied “ooh yes please” if being asked if you want a cup of tea. How many times does the said cup of tea get delivered and gratefully accepted in an earthenware mug? Well of course it does because you are working and really you just wanted a drink but there is just something comforting about a cup of tea. Earthenware mugs are robust items and sometimes actually bounce off hard objects in any of the four places mentioned. Typically the type of mug we are talking about may be a souvenir, something that was given but certainly not one from a set of six or eight.  

An earthenware mug (authors collection)

However, there is nothing nicer than sitting down to afternoon tea or even just a cake with a cup of tea in a bone china cup and saucer, served from a bone china teapot. This is the whole point, it is about being able to relax because you shouldn’t rush a cup of tea. Also there is something inherently wrong about working in the garden or the garage workshop and having a cup of tea in a bone china cup. Partly because it is likely to fall over or worse, break and then the china tea set becomes a mixture of odd cups and saucers, which appears to be the fashion these days but I digress. 

The thing is that ever since afternoon tea was introduced by Anna, 7^th Duchess of Bedford in about 1840, people have always sat and had afternoon tea as a mid point between lunch and dinner. It is said the Duchess has dinner at 8PM and this made it a very long time between meals. Fashions change and some people used to laugh and snigger about afternoon tea and then put on the affected voice “oh I say afternoon tea, how very quaint”. When they meant how very old fashioned. Strange really that afternoon tea is now regarded as very “vintage”, to book afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream, jam and a selection of small cakes. It is not just in London at Harrods or Claridges, The Ritz or The Savoy either. Many provincial cafes and restaurants offer equally good afternoon tea packages. The better ones do offer bone china cups, saucers, side plates, together with cake forks  and linen napkins to enable you to relive the grandeur of yesteryear. At the end of the day, it is not about being posh or just wanting something to eat. it is about being able to relax in nice surroundings with friends or loved ones and to take time to enjoy a cup of tea made properly with loose leaf tea in bone china tea ware.

Table in preparation for afternoon tea, Royal Albert Old Country Roses (authors collection)

So just one thought to leave you with, even if you don’t have all the trimmings with your cup tea, just remember: “A cup of tea without a biscuit is a missed opportunity!”