If you like sipping a cup of hot tea, you will enjoy having a tea set to drink it out of. Invest in a tea set that fits your personality and that can be passed down from generation to generation. You can find tea sets selling almost everywhere such as department stores, import stores, antique boutiques, and online. The prices of tea sets vary, from the cheaper glass or ceramic type to the expensive porcelain and silver ones. No matter which type you choose make sure it is personalized to your taste.

Having a cup of tea with friends is a known tradition that shows sincere friendliness and hospitality. When your guests arrive bring out your tea set and serve them glasses of hot tea. This will make them feel comfortable while visiting your home. Your tea set should include a tea pot, four to eight tea cups or mugs, cup saucers, sugar bowl and creamer. Some tea sets even include a platter. This way you can invite many of your friends to your tea party.

On October 8, 2006 as to Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s largest tea party took place. The party was arranged by the city of Nishio in Japan. They must have used a huge tea set as 14,718 people attended. That’s a lot of cups to wash!

Of course when you think of tea sets you also think of the cup and saucer ride at Disneyland. Remembering back when you were a child and used your tea set to serve you dolls an afternoon cup of tea. Most children’s tea sets were made of plastic so they weren’t so easily broken but some were also made of glass. The glass ones were handled carefully by your mother, and kept in her care. You may also have had a tiny tea set for your Barbie dolls.

Back in history, expensive silver tea sets were found in the more formal households of the wealthy. The tea sets were generally used after formal dinners to serve tea or coffee to family or guests. The tea sets were always presented on a tray and included a tea pot, cups and saucers, spoons, creamer, a sugar bowl and thongs for picking up the cubes of sugar. These silver tea sets were cared for by a footman, which was like the person working under the butler. The Butler was responsible to care for the household silver.

Tea Sets and drinking tea has always been very popular. You can find tea sets in most every home in the world. When you think of tea sets you usually imagine a group of English ladies sitting around a table sipping tea. Or you remember the little plastic tea set you had when you were just a child. There are even miniature glass tea sets that are made especially for dolls. Having a tea party is a part of everyone’s childhood.

For children and adults, a tea set would be a unique and fun gift to receive on a birthday or any special occasion. A tea set would be the perfect Mother’s Day gift for mom. Finding the perfect gift is always a chore, as there is such a wide variety to choose from.

When giving a tea set as a gift, make sure the set is complete. Your sweet, thoughtful gift should include a tea pot, tea cups or mugs, a sugar bowl and creamer, and a box of tea bags. You may also want to include a glass infuser so the recipient can use loose tea as well. You can use the tea set for tea parties and personal celebrations, as well as in your daily rituals.

Finding a tea set to purchase may be an all day affair. There are so many different kinds of tea sets. They come in a large variety of shapes and sizes, and are made of many different materials. Choose a tea set that reflects on your own personal style. There are tea sets made of glass, silver, pottery, metal, ceramic, and porcelain. You may want a fun, whimsical set, a traditional set, oriental, or a more expensive set made of sterling silver. You may even see a few tea sets you like and decide to start a collection.

If you love tea sets you will enjoy collecting them. Some people even collect for investment purposes. Antique tea sets are highly sought after. If you’re lucky you may find a good antique tea set at a garage or estate sale. Some people don’t realize the value of tea sets, especially the old silver ones. Because of tea being so precious back in the 18^th century, there were many sterling silver tea sets crafted for the more affluent tea drinkers. Usually the silver looks tarnished, stained and pretty ugly, on the old tea sets you may come across. But with a little tender loving care and some elbow grease, these silver tea sets are transformed into looking brand new. There are old sterling silver sets that have been sold for over $2000. You may just be lucky enough to find a rare one and make a fortune re-selling it.

As you see, tea sets are and have always been a wonderful party of many aspects of culture, from the rich to the not so rich, they are part of life and history.