What is an English tea service?
Also called an English tea set (or simply a tea set), an English tea service is a collection of implements used for serving tea or coffee. Available in modern and vintage designs, tea services are usually made of either china or silver plate.The Tea ServiceA typical tea service will include a teapot, a pitcher for milk and a sugar bowl. The set may also include a matching tray, which can be used to carry the service to the table.Formal Tea ServicesThe more formal six-piece tea service also includes a tea kettle, coffee pot and small bowl for waste. The tea kettle provides an extra supply of hot water, which can be added to the teapot.The First Tea SetsThe first known tea sets originated in China in the Han Dynasty, during the second century B.C.. These tea sets were not the elaborate sets we see today, only a small set of bowls for steeping crushed tea leaves and spices.European Tea CrazeThe first Chinese tea sets reached Europe in the 1600s, brought from Asia by Portuguese traders.
