Sometimes a gift for a not too familiar person (for example, a work colleague or a distant relative), coming from the heart and heart, is not so easy to choose. Either funds are not enough for something global, then fantasy fails. One of these not sky-high expensive, but memorable and at the same time practical presents can be a tea pair. Especially if a person likes to drink tea at leisure in a homely atmosphere or at work breaks. Then certainly, unlike many aimless trinkets, tea steam will not gather dust in a cupboard, but will be used for its intended purpose. And as a result, he will please the person who has been presented more than once!
What is a tea pair
This is usually a small gift set, which consists of two items: a cup and a saucer. Unlike similar devices for drinking coffee, tea pair looks more impressive in size and has more rounded shapes (although not always, but more on that below). A cup in volume is 220-300 milliliters, but grotesque, more voluminous ones can also be found. A saucer is usually used as a cup stand. Sometimes the kit is completed with a third item - a spoon or a glass for cool water.
Variety of shapes and types
The classic “Russian” tea saucer includes a recess so that you can also take a sip of gulls from it. In diameter, it is 1.5-2 times larger than a cup of proportional size and round. But at present, a gift tea pair (see photo below) can be of original forms, as well as very diverse colors - with all kinds of inscriptions and without them.
Long gone are the days when only traditional cups and saucers with flowers and gold borders were on sale. Now you can buy, for example, a rectangular saucer in the Japanese style with a cup of avant-garde shapes and colored with hieroglyphs. As well as pot-bellied cups in the form of a UFO or in the form of some fairy-tale character. In general, such models cannot be called too practical; rather, they are instances gravitating to souvenir products. But you can drink tea from them, no matter what.
Authors' works of art, which have authenticity, high originality and originality, are also especially popular today, made in the same single copy, which increases their significance. Of course, they cost more, but if you want to give something nice, you can not be stingy.
What is made of
Of course, the most popular and prestigious, or something, remains the traditional porcelain tea pair, as a symbol of the merchant's Russian tea party. But although porcelain is a wonderful and time-tested material that is perfect for a hot and invigorating drink, has excellent quality and keeps warm, today in stores you can buy glass, ceramic, acrylic and even steel tea pairs, which also probably have their right to existence, and in addition, look more modern.
History and Modernity
Be that as it may, the tea parties that came to us from China and other eastern countries remain in trend today. For example, the famous Gongfu-cha tea ceremonies are held in China. During the process of drinking tea, tea pairs are used that include three objects at once: a cup-bowl, a glass, narrow and high, a long saucer in which both previous objects are placed. And each participant in such a ceremony is imbued with the unity of harmony and composition.
Of course, we are not in Japan or China, and cult tea ceremonies are, to put it mildly, less common. But family or friendly tea drinking with a good dessert has not brought anyone grief and bad mood. And for lovers of dreaming alone, a tea pair is also a wonderful gift, indicating a relaxation and comfort zone, even for a few minutes!