Posts Tagged ‘tea sets’

A Tea Lovers Excellent Gift: Tea Gift Packages

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

When I was a small girl I had a plastic tea set that I dearly cherished. It was the best toy, powder blue in color with tiny white flowers. The tea set came with a teapot, 4 cups and four saucers. My sister and I would devote the mid-day playing with it. Occasionally we’d have tiny snacks and pour soda out of the teapot into our cups to drink. That had been exciting!

Currently I don’t sip soda pop out of tea cups anymore. I now enjoy sipping herbal tea out of a cup. And when close friends come to visit, we love to talk and giggle over a nice cup of tea.

A tea set is a special present to give or receive on birthdays and unique occasions. When choosing a tea set to give as a present, be sure to find a set that is definitely complete. It ought to include a tea pot, tea cups, sugar bowl and creamer. Many tea gift sets have a container of tea bags. Those of you that love to use loose leaf tea, you’ll be able to add a glass infuser with the tea set.

Tea gift sets are available in all designs and sizes. They can be made from pottery, ceramic, glass, metal, silver or porcelain. The design might be conventional, whimsical, or oriental. Choose a style that echos your character or that of the recipient.

If you are a tea lover like me, you will find tea gift baskets and sets irresistible. Some tea gift sets come with brewing accessories. Others come with scones, delicate biscuits, delectable cookies and other treats. I tend to be adventurous, so I simply adore tea gift sets that come with a variety of tea samplers. Other tea lovers prefer the traditional true teas like green, black, white and oolong teas. There are also those who like loose leaf tea or herbal blends.

Tea gift sets and baskets can be found online, with numerous kinds to choose from. Pick out one you know the tea fan will like, or try a new variation of what they generally drink. There’s little doubt about it, tea aficionados will appreciate nothing more than a unique tea set for a gift on their special occasion.

Childrens tea set – the perfect gift to offer. Discover more about tea gift sets by going to our website right away.

Yixing: Traditional Chinese Tea Sets

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Without a doubt, clay pots brew the best tea ever. Quite probably the oldest known method of brewing tea, but definitely one of the most lovely and practical ways to this day. Clay tea sets are valued all over the world for their special place in tea culture; one of beauty, design and taste.

What makes clay tea sets unique, is that the clay is very porous, as opposed to bone china tea sets, porcelain, silver, etc. This porousness actually allows the pots and cups used to soak up the tea, so that after many years of usage, it is no longer necessary to add tea to the hot water, because there are small traces of the tea in the clay. So, the pot and cups will flavor the hot water naturally. Yes. Very cool.

Aside from the main benefit of tea clay sets, there are still a few more. If you have a new clay tea set, you don\’t have to worry if it isn\’t \”seasoned\” yet. Because even if it isn\’t old yet, it will still add to the color, flavor and aroma of any tea you brew because the set is made of clay.

Yixing clay tea sets exemplify craftsmanship and quality. They are often carved with very delicate, ornate designs; depictions of ancient Chinese life, culture, and traditions; these are the most traditional. Of course, nowadays you can find almost any variation. There are clay pots that have been dyed different colors, or painted with contemporary art. If nothing else, a Yixing clay tea set makes a great conversation piece.

If you are worried about the maintenance of your Yixing tea set, don\’t be! They are really quite simple to maintain. The only rule is to never use cleanser or soap on your set. This is important to remember: whatever you put into your pot, has the potential to soak into the pores of the clay. So, unless you want your tea to taste like soap, I wouldn\’t recommend using it to clean your set. What I would recommend however, is to pour some hot water over your tea set when you\’re done using it, and then rinse it again with water. You can then dry it with a tea towel, or simply let it air dry.

Also, one should note that most tea experts who use Yixing sets are very careful not to use more than one type of tea in each set. Which is to say that if you use flower tea in a clay pot, you should always and only use flower tea. If you start mixing different tea leaves, their flavors will all be absorbed into the pot, and you will never again be able to expect consistent flavor.

If you want to find your own Yixing tea set, all you have to do is look online. Or you could travel to China, but it isn\’t necessary anymore. You can\’t go wrong with a clay tea set, and you really can\’t get anything that is more traditional.

Looking to find the best deal on Yixing clay tea sets, then visit www.coolteasets.com to find the best advice on clay tea sets for you.