Well, let me tell ya ’bout them blue and white porcelain tea sets, the ones they call fancy, you know?

What are these things anyway?

I’ve heard tell they started makin’ these things long ago, way back in China. Folks over there, they made ’em with pretty flowers and such, all in blue on white. Then, the Europeans, they went crazy for ’em. Wanted ’em real bad, they did. So, they started makin’ their own, places like Delft, they call it. Same kinda thing, blue and white, but maybe a little different flowers, ya know?

Why folks like drinkin’ tea from ’em?

Now, some folks say tea tastes better outta these porcelain cups. I ain’t so sure myself, tea’s tea to me, but they say it’s ’cause the cup don’t soak up the tea’s flavor. Keeps it warm longer too, they say. Makes sense, I guess. My old metal cup, that thing cools down fast, let me tell ya.

Them pricey ones

Heard a story ’bout one of them old cups, from China way back when, sold for a whole heap of money! Millions, they say! Can ya believe it? Just a cup! But I guess some folks got more money than sense. Makes ya wonder what they put in that tea, gold maybe?

• What makes ’em worth somethin’?
• Well, the fancy ones, they got all sorts of curlicues and whatnot on ’em. More work, I guess, means more money.
• And the old ones, them antiques, them’s the real treasures. Hard to find, see? So, folks pay a lot for ’em. Like findin’ a hen’s tooth, it is.

Don’t gotta be all matchy-matchy

Now, ya don’t need a whole set of blue and white, all the same. I seen folks, they got just a teapot, blue and white, and then they use other cups, maybe plain white, maybe somethin’ else. Looks nice, it does. Like mixin’ and matchin’ your clothes, ya know? Sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t.

Where ya gonna find ’em?

Lots of places sell these things. You can find ’em online, shops sellin’ nothin’ but tea sets. Lots of different kinds too, some from Japan, with plum blossoms, they call ’em. Some English ones, too, real dainty lookin’. Or you can go to them antique stores, if you’re lookin’ for somethin’ old. But be careful, they might try to cheat ya, them antique dealers.

You can even get towels and stuff with the same blue and white colors, for your kitchen. Make it all matchy-matchy, if you like that sort of thing. I just use whatever rag I got handy, myself.

Plain white ones too

And then there’s the plain white ones. Just white, no blue. For them tea ceremonies, they say. I ain’t never been to one of them, sounds too fancy for me. But the cups, they’re pretty enough, I guess. Just white, though. Kinda plain, if ya ask me.

So, there ya have it. All ya need to know ’bout them blue and white porcelain tea sets. Fancy things, some of ’em, but nice to look at, even if ya don’t drink tea outta ’em. Me, I’m happy with my old mug, but to each their own, I say.

A final word

Whether it’s an old one or a new one, a fancy one or a plain one, a tea set is just a thing. It’s the tea and the company that matter, that’s what I think. But a pretty cup don’t hurt none, I suppose.

Tags：[Blue and White Porcelain, Tea Set, Chinese Porcelain, Delftware, Antique, Tea Ceremony, Kitchen, Collectible, Teapot, Teacup]