A lover of tea and cake will appreciate the history and tradition of this pottery brand that goes back to 1896 in Stoke, England.

The Price & Kensington Herbal Garden Design Tea For One leaves no doubt as to its British origins. I say so, not because the tea for one set in question is formal, pompous or otherwise indicative of the mannerisms of upper class aristocracy, but because the workmanship, subject matter and feel of the product seems so very everyday English. Images of a warm summer day, out in the countryside, sipping tea and reading a book come to mind.

Adding this tea for one set to your collection or offering it to a friend to add to theirs would be like adding the last piece to the puzzle. Drinking tea, if you are going to do it properly, means, getting the entire process right. Weather, mood, time of day and season are all important factors in choosing the right flavor and selecting the appropriate tea set.

This offering from the longstanding potters back in the UK, hits a very particular niche. The hand painted artwork, the herbs and flowers so daintily detailed and the subtle selection of colors all tell me that I am not in a rush, when I opt to imbibe my delicately flavored hot water treat, with some freshly baked biscuits I bought earlier today at my favorite bakery. Tea pot and cup fit nicely together and complete my day.

The light blue tells me it is clear skies and the white tells me there is hardly a breeze in the air. The red berries on the lid, are literally and figuratively, just that, the cherry on top. How delightful.

It is not a day for fussing and my ceramic service is going straight into the dishwasher when I am done (it is microwave safe also). No saucer to worry about, it is just me after all.

Just right at 7 x 5 x 5.5 inches.

Now all I have to figure out is do I go for Early Grey or maybe something with a hint of lemon?

Then, there is the tea! Earl and Lady Grey, lemon and chamomile, green tea and English Breakfast tea. Choosing and brewing tea is somewhat of an art and once again experimentation is at your disposal. There are even many different varieties of tea pots, including metal and porcelain.

Tea time varies depending on where you are in the world; in Africa, it is a lunch break type of situation, in Australia and New Zealand it is more of a “snack”, while in Hong Kong it is a small afternoon meal.
It was the Portuguese wife of King Charles the II (1661) who originally brought the idea  of “taking tea” into England. Later on Anna Russel, who was a Duchess, revolutionized tea by making it into a larger affair; more like a meal and less like a snack.

There is also High Tea, which includes such delights as cold meat, fish and biscuits it is either a late afternoon snack or takes the place of dinner.

The United States is rather unfamiliar with the idea of “tea” and our “coffee break”, though seemingly similar, is more of a “gossip gathering” ritual than anything else. Our version of High tea is taking out our best China and making thin sandwiches on white bread with no crust.

As you can see, no matter where you go, tea time is a delightful and widely acceptable practice that many different cultures enjoy.
So; whether you are enjoying your tea set for one, or basking in the company of many, may you find your perfect cup of tea!