Does Tea Really Taste Better in Bone China?

Does tea taste better in bone china? Does it matter if it's a mug or a cup and saucer? I've been asking myself this question for most of my life.

My earliest tea ceremony was at around 10 years old — a proud Brownie with an important badge to earn. Our task was to make as many cups of tea as possible in a day. I made 17 cups for what seemed like all of Mum's friends. Curious, I tried one. Not bad. Two sugars just to be sure. Not quite an R-Whites lemonade on a Saturday night, but good.

Fast forward to Granny's house. Breakfast around the table, fresh bread, homemade jams, and tea — from a china teapot naturally — poured into a bone china cup and saucer. Pure white with a delicate pale blue and silver design. The handle so petite you couldn't help holding it carefully. Almost without noticing, the pinky wanted to go out to the side. And the taste? Oooh. Now I got it. It really does taste better. How can that be?

The years went by and I always kept fine bone china in the cupboard. Then came Staffordshire University, week one, and an introduction to porcelain clay — pure white and beautiful to work with. By my Masters we were working with utilitarian wares, and a trip to Eze, a magnificent ancient hilltop village in the South of France, changed everything. Captured by the beautiful old buildings, I sketched the entire town. My lecturer suggested I add them to some little handmade mugs. A quick prayer to the kiln Gods and voila — my little mug emerged in one piece, drawings crisp and quirky in cobalt blue. I was hooked.

Studying in Staffordshire opened my eyes to the sad decline of ceramic manufacturing in what was once a worldwide industry. I visited factory after factory until I found the right partner — making fine bone china in England since 1888, producing the purest, whitest, strongest wares I'd ever seen. And the size? 350ml. Just right for a proper cuppa. A cup and saucer is lovely for afternoon tea, but as a busy mum and business owner, it has to be a mug.

Earthenware has always disappointed me — you have to drink too quickly to catch it hot. In bone china I can savour the moment a little longer. And my designs all mean something to me. Cities I've visited, taking me back just for a moment to a happy memory, usually shared with someone I love.

Let me know your thoughts. Does size matter and can you taste the difference?

To find out more about my different collections of English made bone china tableware pop to the link below. Or if you would like your own bespoke tea set with drawings or pictures of your special place or people, do get in touch.

Now to put the kettle on, again...

Mandy x