The tea cup's story

via : a-chinese-tea-bowl-jian-ware-song-dynasty

via: Royal-Limoges

Ceasca de ceai este pentru multi un obiect folosit zilnic, ceaiul fiind bautura cea mai consumata in lume, indragita si savurata fie calda sau rece cu diferite arome, un deliciu in clipele de relaxare. Dar cum a fost inventata forma actuala a cestii de ceai este un mister poate pentru multi. Primele cesti de ceai au facut drumul spre Europa -mai precis Anglia importate fiind din China in secolul 16. Acestea erau boluri fara maner folosite in China de secole in timpul ceremoniei ceaiului: tea bowl Song dinasty 960-1279
In jurul anului 1750 un englez inspirat pe nume Robert Adams a ajuns la concluzia ca acestor boluri le lipseste un maner pentru sustinere pentru ca de cele mai multe ori englezii se ardeau la maini. El stabileste astfel ca regula  aceste manere -tortitele de astazi, si impreuna cu alte accesorii adaugate tot de el : farfurioara care aduna ceaiul scurs pe marginea canii, zaharnita si sosiera pentru frisca pentru ca preferau ceaiul indulcit,  lingurita pentru amestecat completeaza serviciul de ceai care a devenit astfel un set clasic respectat si preluat de toate tarile europene si de peste ocean fiind produse din portelan fin dar foarte rezistent. Unele tari vor continua insa si traditia bolurilor sau a cestilor fara torti, reinterpretandu-le in diferite forme.
Forma de bol initiala este in continuare preferata in China si tarile orientale si sunt fabricate dintr-o pasta ceramica de tip argila cu o forma ce poate fii cuprinsa intr-o mana stransa si peretii destul de grosi ca sa nu te arzi. In paralel chinezii au dezvoltat si forma occidentala cu torti dar i-au adaugat o mica sita peste ceasca cu capac pentru infuzarea directa a ceaiului.
Manufactura seturilor de ceai a cunoscut o dezvoltare deosebita in Anglia unde se stie ca servitul ceaiului a devenit un obicei de neinlocuit, forma lor fiind rafinata pe parcursul secolelor.
Parerea specialistilor englezi este ca trebuie creata ceasca perfecta pentru ca ceaiul sa isi pastreze toate proprietatile : British scientists work make perfect cup tea

Dupa aceasta poveste cred ca voi face un ceai cald potrivit pentru vremea de afara si il voi savura intr-una din cestile mele preferate, relaxandu-ma si va invit sa faceti acelasi lucru.

Curled up with a cup of tea and a good book  via: Etsy

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With tea being the number one drink in the world, the tea cup is a much loved and used item that accompany us every day, all of us love to relax with a good cup of tea in our hands, whether hot or cold and in different aromas. But maybe you don't know the story behind this everyday object and how it evolved over the centuries.The first tea bowls were imported from China to Europe in the 1700 and were initially just bowls used for centuries in the most ceremonial way-  tea bowl Song dinasty 960-1279
Around 1750 an inspired englishman named Robert Adams came to realize that  the tea cups need handles because they often burned their hands on the tea bowls. The English thought this was quite unique and this became quickly the standard of what is known as the English Tea Service Set. Since the English loved to put cream and a bit of sugar in their tea, Robert Adams also inspired the tea pot, sugar holders, milk or creamer containers, and even tea spoons to match. English men made these tea cups from fine porcelain that was strong but delicate in its look.Even today the experts debate over which form is best suited for the best flavour to be achieved: British scientists work make perfect cup tea
Many other European and over seas countries embraced the porcelain sets that were inspired by Robert Adams, but some countries still will have the bowl type ones. These can be different sizes,  simple, streamlined and serve the same purpose of drinking tea.
In China, Japan and other oriental countries people still prefer to drink their tea in pottery ware used to brew directly the tea. The chinese are very proud of what is known as their “purple clay”.  These tea cups are handle-less and require the user to completely wrap hand around tea cup. The pottery-type tea cup is thicker  protecting in this way the hand from a burn. It is up to you which style you prefer.


After writing this tea cup story I am off to make a good tea to enjoy and hope you do the same.


Curled up with a cup of tea and a good book  via: Etsy