How to care for a ceramic tea set

A tea set cared for well is handed down, not replaced.

How do you wash a ceramic tea set?

Rinse each piece soon after use, while the tea is still loose. Wash by hand in warm water with a little mild washing-up liquid and a soft sponge, then rinse well. Dry with a soft cloth, or leave the pieces upside down on a rack. Hand washing is the safest choice for any tea set, and the only choice for pieces with gold or painted details, such as the peacock ceramic tea set or the hand-painted peach travel tea set.

Can a ceramic tea set go in the dishwasher or microwave?

Check the care note on the product page first, because it depends on the glaze and decoration. As a rule, never put a piece with a gold or silver rim in the microwave, and keep hand-painted or handcrafted pieces out of the dishwasher. When in doubt, wash by hand.

How do you stop a tea set from cracking?

Ceramic cracks most often from a sudden change in temperature. Warm the teapot and cups with a little hot water before pouring boiling tea, especially on cold winter mornings. Never pour boiling water into a piece straight from the fridge, and never put a hot teapot down on a cold stone or wet surface.

How do you remove tea stains from cups?

1. Make a paste of baking soda and a few drops of water.
2. Rub it gently over the stain with a soft cloth or sponge.
3. Leave it for a few minutes, then rinse well with warm water.

Avoid bleach and scouring pads: they dull the glaze over time.

Why do lines appear in a crackle glaze?

A crackle glaze is made with fine lines on purpose. Over months of use, tea slowly settles into them and they darken. This is normal and part of the character of the piece; many tea lovers prize a well-used crackle cup. It does not mean the cup is cracked. You can see a crackle glaze on our crackle glaze ceramic travel tea set.

How do you care for a purple sand clay teapot?

Purple sand clay is unglazed, so it absorbs a little of every tea brewed in it. Rinse it with hot water only, never soap, and leave it to dry with the lid off. Brew one kind of tea in it, so the flavour builds over the years. Our purple sand clay kung fu tea set comes with its own carry case for safe storage.

How should you store a tea set?

Store each piece fully dry, with a soft cloth or paper between cups so they do not knock together. Keep the original gift box or carry case: it is the safest way to store and move the set. Loose tea keeps best in a closed ceramic jar, such as the lotus ceramic tea jar with wooden lid.

What if a piece arrives damaged?

Every Anaiza Nest order is checked and packed by hand in Dhaka. When your parcel arrives, open it in front of the delivery agent and record the unboxing. If anything is broken, send us the video within 3 days and we will put it right.

Find your next set in tea sets or cups and mugs.

Gifted, beautifully.