Have you ever wondered about the proper use of cups and saucers? While we often enjoy our coffee or tea in casual mugs.
There are times when a more formal approach is required. Understanding the history and etiquette of using a Cup and Saucer can add a touch of elegance to your beverage service.
This article explores the traditions behind cups and saucers, how to use them properly, and tips for selecting the perfect set for your home. Continue reading to enhance your tea or coffee experience with these timeless pieces.
How to Properly Drink Tea From a Cup and Saucer?
Drinking tea from a cup and saucer shows good manners and elegance.
Follow these steps for proper form:
- Hold the Saucer and Cup: Hold the saucer with your weaker hand and the cup with your more substantial hand. If you’re right-handed, put the cup handle at 3 o’clock; if left-handed, put it at 9 o’clock.
- Lift the Cup with Care: Hold the cup handle with your thumb and pointer finger. Keep your pinky finger curved against the cup to stay balanced and not stick it out like in the movies.
- Sip Quietly: Take small sips of the tea without making loud noises. Sit up straight and stay calm.
- Return to the Saucer: After you take a sip, put the cup back on the saucer. This stops spills and keeps your tea from getting too cold.
- Avoid Drinking from the Saucer: The saucer is meant to catch drips from the cup, not for drinking. Never raise the saucer to your mouth for sipping.
- Finish Gracefully: When finished, place the cup back on the saucer and return it to the table. Use a napkin to dab your lips delicately.
Following these steps, you can show grace and respect for tradition while sipping tea from a cup and saucer. Try practicing at home to improve your skills for formal occasions.
The History and Purpose of the Cups and Saucers
People started drinking tea, coffee, or chocolate from cups with saucers in Europe during the 17th century. At first, the saucer was used to cool down the hot drink and catch any spills from the cup.
Over time, using a saucer became part of good manners and politeness at the table. People would gently pour their drink from the cup into the saucer before sipping it.
Holding the saucer in one hand and the cup in the other helped prevent spills and burns from the hot cup. The idea of holding the pinkie finger up while drinking became linked with balancing the cup on the saucer.
In aristocratic society, it was considered refined and polite to drink only from the cup, not the saucer. Slurping from the saucer was seen as impolite.
Nowadays, not many people cool hot drinks in saucers. However, cups and saucers are still popular for serving tea, coffee, and other hot beverages. They’re used at home, in restaurants, and during special events.
Drinking Etiquette: Should You Drink From the Saucer?
When you have tea or coffee in a cup with a saucer. It’s polite to drink from the cup, not the saucer.
Here are some guidelines on the proper use of the cups and saucer:
The saucer is for catching spills, holding the cup, and not drinking from it. It’s not polite to drink tea or coffee straight from the saucer. When you stir your tea or coffee, put the spoon back on the saucer, not in the cup.
When you finish your drink, put the cup back on the saucer. Don’t just leave it on the table. If the cup and saucer separate, combine them right after you sip.
Hot tea or coffee can be cooled in the saucer before sipping. To do so, blow gently across the liquid or move the saucer back and forth.
If your cup is too full and you’re worried about spilling, you can take a small sip from the saucer. But drinking the whole drink from the saucer is not polite.
There’s one exception for espresso. Pouring a bit into the saucer and then drinking it from there is okay.
How to Properly Drink Tea From Cups and Saucers
Drinking tea correctly with a cup and saucer shows good manners and politeness.
Follow these steps for proper form:
Hold the saucer in one hand and the cup in the other. If you are right-handed, hold the cup handle at 3 o’clock; if you are left-handed, hold it at 9 o’clock.
To drink, lift the cup using your thumb and index finger. Keep your pinky finger curled against the cup.
Drink quietly from the rim; don’t slurp. When you’re not drinking, put the cup back on the saucer to avoid spills and keep it warm.
Don’t drink directly from the saucer; it’s just for catching drips. When you’re done, put the cup back on the saucer and then back on the table. Use a napkin to wipe your lips after drinking.
With proper posture, graceful movement, and quiet sips, drinking tea from a cup and saucer exhibits poise and decorum.
Follow these steps to show good manners in formal situations. Practice them at home to feel confident when using proper behavior.
Coffee Cups vs Tea Cups: Do You Need a Saucer?
The cup and saucer set is a tradition in Western tableware. It might seem old-fashioned, but it still matters today. Knowing why we use cups and saucers can help you decide if they suit your drinks.
Coffee cups are bigger and hold more than tea cups. They’re more expensive so that you can drink and smell the coffee easily. Plus, they usually have handles.
Teacups are smaller, about 3-4 inches wide. This helps the tea cool down and release its flavors. They sit on matching saucers.
Saucers are useful and attractive. They stop spills, keep tables safe from heat, and showcase pretty designs.
You don’t need a saucer with coffee mugs because the handle helps you hold it. Hold the handle with your thumb and finger when you drink from a teacup.
Take a small sip and put the cup back on the saucer. Don’t stick your pinky finger out; that’s showing off. You can drink coffee straight from the mug, but using a saucer can make it fancier.
Choosing the Perfect Cup and Saucer Set for Your Home
When you pick cups and saucers for your home, consider important things to find the best ones. Choose good porcelain or bone china sets that handle everyday use without breaking or chipping. Look for designs and patterns that match what you like and how your home is decorated.
- Some people like old-fashioned styles with pretty flower patterns, while others who like modern things might choose plain colors or basic shapes instead.
- Evaluate the dimensions of the cups and saucer. A cup with a larger bowl capacity of around 8-10 oz is ideal for enjoying coffee or tea.
- Ensure the saucer diameter is at least 2 inches wider than the cup base. This prevents spills and lets you gently return the cup to the saucer after sipping.
- It is also wise to choose sets where the cup handles and saucer rims match in color. Contrasting handles stand out in a visually unappealing way.
- Subtle complementary colors for the interior and exterior glaze will give your set a polished, upscale appearance.
With numerous styles to select from, thoughtfully choosing the ideal cups and saucer sets from Teasetbox will provide you with an elegant tea service to use for years to come. Allow your taste, daily needs, and sense of style to guide you toward pieces uniquely yours.
Conclusion
Cups and saucers are necessary when serving tea and coffee properly. The saucer is not for drinking from, but it’s good for the cup to sit on so it doesn’t spill. Cups and saucers have changed, but they’re still important, especially in fancy settings.
Knowing how to use them correctly shows you respect tradition and have good manners. If careful and thoughtful, using cups and saucers can make your tea or coffee break feel fancier.
FAQs
No, traditionally, you should drink from the cup while the saucer is used for resting the cup or catching drips.
The saucer serves multiple purposes, including catching drips from the cup, providing a stable base for the cup, and sometimes holding small snacks or teabags.
No, it is not considered proper etiquette to sip directly from the saucer in formal settings. The saucer is meant to support the cup.
Hold the cup with your fingers through the handle and support the saucer with your other hand. Avoid holding the cup and saucer together as one unit.
Yes, after sipping from the cup, place it back onto the saucer gently and ensure it rests securely without any spills.