Tea is one of the world's most popular beverages. It has been around for many years, and is a staple in many different cultures around the world. Many people find that they start and end their day with a cup of tea, and often make room for a cup or two in between. Tea is not only a beverage, but it's important in social occasions, and as an all around pick-me-up. It makes sense, then, that there are a variety of different accessories that can be purchased to make brewing a cup of tea the most pleasant experience it can be.
There are many different tea accessories available for the most discerning of tea connoisseurs. Tea pots and kettles are probably the most obvious of these accessories. After all, it's difficult to brew a proper cup of tea without the proper tea making equipment. Tea pots and kettles range from the scruffy and inexpensive all the way through to the exquisite. They come in a range of different styles, colors and materials. If you're interested in a tea pot or kettle, you can look for one in your local homewares shop. Alternatively, if you look online or in an antiques shop, you may find an interesting kettle that has a lot of history to it.
Another fabulous tea accessory is the humble tea cup. While many people today will drink their tea out of mugs, there is something wonderful about drinking a cup of English breakfast or Earl Grey from a proper tea cup and saucer set. There are many different varieties of cups and saucers around to suit a range of different budgets. You'll find them in modern, art deco, and old-fashioned styles, so shop around until you find one that suits your own tastes. Tea cups and saucers are great accessories that also make fabulous gifts for your loved ones. Note also that you can buy something called a tennis set, which is a cup and saucer set that has room on it for a scone or biscuit. These are great for when you have guests over.
Other tea accessories that are essential include things such as spout strainers. These are placed on the end of a tea pot spout and ensure that errant tea leaves don't fall into your tea. Other tea spout covers help prevent tea from spilling down the side of your pot and improve the pouring process. You can also purchase tea strainers that sit inside your tea pot or your cup of tea. These help keep the errant tea leaves in check to make sure that they don't fall into your tea. If you regularly by loose leaf tea, another thing that you might wish to invest in is tea tins. Tea tins can range from the functional to the aesthetic. Tea tins from countries such as Japan or China can be extremely beautiful, with decorative designs and beautiful materials making them stand out. You may also want to invest in tea scoops or tea measures to ensure that you're making tea that is of an appropriate strength.