Who doesn't love a cup of tea? Brewed to the perfect strength, it warms you inside and immediately makes you feel calm. You may prefer Earl Grey, green tea, or a classic English Breakfast, but either way, you'll appreciate a tea cup or cup and saucer set that'll last many an afternoon tea without breaking or wearing.
To do this, you can look at different materials such as bone china, ceramic, and glass, although of course, you might get a little overwhelmed by the selection available. Whether you'd prefer something small and dainty for a collection or a durable double wall design, this guide will help you learn the basics, and give you ten products to choose from too.
Quick List - Top Tea Cups
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To help you to understand more about how to buy the best tea cup for your brewing needs, we've put together a simple buying guide that covers features such as material, accessories, and how to look for an easy-care cup. Let's get into it!
Believe it or not, the shape of the tea cup will have an effect on the taste of the tea. Your tea cup should be around 200 ml to hold a suitable amount of tea. To make sure that your tea drinking experience is as exquisite as your new cup, take a moment to consider how you like to drink this hot and steamy beverage.
If you prefer your tea to stay hot for a long time, tall, narrow cups will make a big difference, as will making sure that there isn't a significant difference in the top and bottom circumferences. In addition, narrow tops are better for directing aromas, which is better for fragrant teas such as Earl Grey.
Of course, you could opt for a wide rim cup if you're happy to drink your tea right away. That way, you don't need to wait for a long time for it to cool down. It's also ideal if you like weaker brews as the tea flavours don't have too much time to intensify.
Tea cups can come in all different shapes and sizes, but most importantly, materials. You've heard of bone china or fine china tea cups, but are you fully aware of how a good quality cup can improve your brew? There's lots to learn, so put your feet up and take a look at our tips.
Earthenware tea cups are usually moulded to a bulkier shape that's intentionally thicker, which some people do prefer over daintier styles. It also makes for a strong and practical cup, created for everyday tea drinking. Not only this, but they also offer a great quality to affordability ratio.
On the downside, earthenware cups have a tendency to be porous, which may keep drinks hotter for longer, but isn't so good for tea filtration and can retain flavours. To counter this, make sure there is a glass-like glaze coating the cup to eliminate the pores.
China tea cups are are beautifully crafted with minuscule grains of clay that are fired and coated until almost translucent, creating a delicate shine. This, and their fragility, is why they're typically used for special occasions and come with saucers to keep them from getting scratched. However, even though they are breakable, they don't wear very easily.
You can get several types of china, though: porcelain, bone, and fine. They're all perfect for tea because they're incredibly non-porous, so no tannins will cling to the sides of the cup which in turn preserves the body of the tea.
Porcelain is delicate yet durable, whereas bone china consists of 40% cow bone ash mixed with clay – though it too has a very thin surface (seen as superior for tea sipping and tasting) that's surprisingly sturdy. Fine china has similar properties, except it's made from synthetic bone ash, making it more affordable.
Glass is an excellent material for tea cups as it's non-porous and extremely smooth like china, only less fragile.
Another benefit is that you get to see and appreciate the tea or tea leaves as they slowly expand and change colour. If you like to drink blooming flower teas, you should definitely opt for a glass cup to get the full experience.
Glass isn't as insulating as some materials, although it can be very hot to the touch. Therefore, you can look for glass cups in a metal frame, a design commonly seen in countries like Morocco, or go for double walled glass, which keeps the heat in and shields your hands.
If you have a dishwasher in your home, there's no doubt that you use it every day. It's a kitchen hero and it saves us from hours of washing up, especially the cutlery carnage that's left from a Sunday roast with the whole family.
Sound familiar? You may want to opt for a cup that's dishwasher-safe, especially if you have a cup (or several cups) of tea on a daily basis. Unless you don't mind hand washing it every time, of course! You should also make sure that it's being cleaned at a temperature that's suitable for the material, as some china cups can crack under too high a heat.
In addition to this, you might want to consider a tea cup that's microwave-safe, which gives you the option of heating up your tea if it gets cold.
You can see from our recommended products that some tea cups come with matching saucers, though this isn't always standard, so it's worth checking if this is something you'd like. On top of this, some come with a teapot or infuser, too.
Think about which would suit you depending on who you're buying for, and for what purpose. For example, a set with a matching teapot would make a great gift, a quirky single cup and saucer could be the start of a collection, or a couple of simpler matching cups would be perfect for morning brews for two.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Lewis & Partners Fine China Cup & Saucer | ![]() | A Contrasting Duo of China Cups and Saucers | |
2 | Spode Zoological Gardens Tea-For-One Teapot & Cup Set | ![]() | A Tea Party for One | |
3 | Spode Zoological Gardens Cup & Saucer | ![]() | A Wild and Beautiful Design | |
4 | Price and Kensington Simplicity Teacup | ![]() | Back to Basics With Classic White Porcelain | |
5 | Wedgwood Butterfly Bloom Cup and Saucer Set | ![]() | A Lovely Tea Time Classic | |
6 | Sara Miller for Portmeirion Chelsea Collection Birds Cup and Saucer | ![]() | Beautifully-Packaged Fine China, Inside and Out | |
7 | VAHDAM Double Walled Insulated Tea Cup | ![]() | Transparent, Trendy, and Heat-Trapping | |
8 | TKLake Flower Glass Tea Cup | ![]() | A Decorative Tea Cup from a Fairy Tale | |
9 | Victoria & Albert Alice in Wonderland Cup and Saucer | ![]() | Inspired by the Epitome of Tea Parties | |
10 | Royal Albert Modern Vintage Tea Cup and Saucer | ![]() | A Pretty Pink Tea Cup in a Classic Shape |
The in-house design studio of John Lewis has designed this eye-catching set of liftable tea cups. With bold arched stripes and monochrome gold hints, this 1930's-inspired design is a must-have for your morning or afternoon tea.
Being made from fine china makes them special enough to bring out for best yet also practical enough for everyday use, and the size is just right for a perfect-tasting cup of tea. Coming in an elegant box, you can choose to either gift these fine china tea cups or keep them for yourself – we wouldn't blame you!
A step up on the previous tea cup, this product from Spode's Zoological range comes in a, equally pretty pale pink print with a matching tea pot. The teapot holds 255 ml while the cup holds up to 227 ml, making it a dreamy office essential with just the right amount for one.
Plus, you can brew your first tea and have your next cup brewing while you drink it! The cup and teapot neatly stack together to sit sturdily on a shelf, so you can proudly display them between uses.
This bold and beautiful tea cup and saucer set is made from strong English earthenware for everyday use. It's safe for use in the dishwasher, microwave, freezer, and even the oven, making it flexible to your lifestyle, too. It also features a sharply-angled handle which allows for it to comfortably rest in your hand between sips of chamomile.
Its unique design offers something different to a traditional floral tea cup pattern, and portrays a blend of three of Spode's designs, including 'Aesop’s Fable' and zoological animals that were first introduced to the scene in the 1810s.
The Price and Kensington Simplicity Collection offers a range of simple yet delicate table and serveware, including this classically-shaped tea cup and saucer. It has a slightly larger capacity than some too, so would suit those who brew their tea in-cup rather than in the pot.
Made from durable white porcelain china, this tea cup is microwave safe-and you can even pop it in the dishwasher, too. It's a substantial item for anyone's home and at the affordable price of £2.95, you can stock up for the whole family.
Made by the perhaps the most iconic British serveware brand, Wedgewood, this elegantly-printed tea cup and saucer set brings a spark of joy to your afternoon tea, and would make a great first classic tea cup to a collection, or just a treat for yourself!
The wide rim and thin lip provide optimum tea-sipping temperature and taste, and each beautiful piece is crafted from fine bone china and the design is printed by hand, proving the product's excellent quality and one-of-a-kind aesthetics.
This intricately-designed cup and saucer from the Chelsea Collection by Sara Miller for Portmeirion is a stunning piece to either keep for yourself or give to a lucky loved one. Though it has a narrower rim than some, it's ideal for enjoying with tea brewed in a pot.
With touches of 22-carat gold, this fine china tea cup features strikingly vibrant colours that you can mix and match with other collectables from the set. On top of all of that, it's presented in a gorgeous foil-pressed box, too.
This pair of borosilicate glass tea cups feature a double-walled, insulating layer which is not only practical, but makes the tea look like it's floating in the cup! Keeping the heat exactly where it needs to be – the tea, and not your hands – these cups are safe to use and comfortable to hold.
Not only do these keep your drink hotter for longer, but they're also a very smart and sleek addition to any kitchen cupboard. They're also very easy to care for and keep free from chips or breakages, as they're crafted with such sturdiness and simplicity.
Each of these tea cups is made from high-quality, sturdy glass with a stainless steel teaspoon to match. Adorned with beautiful decorations, this is no cup for your daily brew – it's clearly made for something special.
Its luxury novelty makes it a brilliant gift or collectors item, though it isn't microwave- or dishwasher-safe, so bear that in mind when you take care of it.
Featuring gorgeous sketches from Alice in Wonderland, this teacup and saucer set makes a charming gift. Taking a closer look, the sides are adorned with pocket watches, cake stands, golden keys, and top hats, all of which are typical elements of the Wonderland itself.
Plus, there's also a set of matching mugs, cake stands, plates, and other tableware, so you can build your tea party collection! However, take into consideration the fragility of these cups, and perhaps save them for best.
This classic design is pretty in pink with rose accents on both the exterior and interior. Made from fine bone china, this delicate tea cup also comes with a matching saucer. The wide rim and shallow base mean that, while the cup is fairly deep, the tea will be drinking temperature almost immediately.
This dos mean that you have to drink your tea right away without letting it get too cold, because, unfortunately, you can't put the cup nor the saucer in the microwave.
Put the kettle on, you're almost there. You can now enjoy a cup of tea, whether it be fruit, leaf, or flower, in one of these gorgeous tea cups. We hope that you enjoyed looking through our favourite products and that you found our buying guide useful.
Author: Annie Speight
No. 1: John Lewis & Partners |Fine China Cup & Saucer
No. 2: Spode|Zoological Gardens Tea-For-One Teapot & Cup Set
No. 3: Spode|Zoological Gardens Cup & Saucer
No. 4: Price and Kensington |Simplicity Teacup
No. 5: Wedgwood |Butterfly Bloom Cup and Saucer Set
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