A guide to choosing Chinese tea cups
In these days of coke and fries, are tea cups and tea sets still fashionable? Yes, they are! Can you imagine having a glass of coke with the Queen? Exactly! But, make that a cup of tea and you’ll understand why tea cups and tea sets still attract people. Chinese tea cups have a bit of history and loads of beauty. Thus, they are the perfect way to entertain guests with class and sophistication.
So, how do you select the right Chinese tea cups? Here are a few points to consider:
- • Raw material: Authentic Chinese tea cups are made of red or purple clay. Purple clay is among the most popular because this is found at the bottom of the mine. One of the most pleasing features of clay is the way it feels. It looks oily but feels warm and fresh on the hands, if they are made with care.
- • Looks: Chinese tea cups are a work of art. Their beauty is not breathtaking at a glance, but ageless, like paintings by the masters. Assess whether the style of the teapot appeals to you. The craftsmanship and the style must be practical as well as beautiful. Some features to look out for are whether the handle is aligned nicely with the spout, does the lid fit snugly, is the tea cup of the right size and so on. It must be remembered that compared to teacups in the rest of the world, Chinese tea cups and teapots are tiny.
- • Style: A beautiful Chinese tea set is not just about the materials. The tea set embodies a particular culture. The calligraphy, the art work and the seal are vital components of these tea sets. Understand the picture, engraving and the seal on the set you buy.
Generally, Chinese tea cups are divided into different types:
- Filtering tea cups: Tea drinkers use these tea cups to filter the tea. Therefore, these tea cups have internal filters. The most popular among these tea cups include the Yixing Clay Mug and Poet Filtering Cup.
- Specialty tea cups: These tea cups are available in a number of shapes and designs. An excellent example is the Peony Flower teacup, which is one of the most popular designs available.
These days, very few people believe in investing in authentic Chinese tea cups, what with a proliferation of plastic mugs and the like. But, if you appreciate the sophisticated elegance involved in a formal tea party and desire to bring out your tea set while you serve biscuits and cake, then a Chinese tea set is a must.