Tea Cups
Tea cups are the classic handled cup, typically 18-22cl, paired with a matching saucer for table-side tea service in hotels, cafés and care homes. The key buying consideration is capacity matched to serving style — a true tea cup runs smaller than a mug — with a fine vitrified porcelain or bone china body chosen for a traditional afternoon-tea look. “Tea cups” is the plain buyer term, often searched alongside “cup and saucer sets.”
Key specifications
Tea cups typically hold 18-22cl — smaller than a mug — in a handled shape paired with a matching saucer for table-side service. Fine vitrified porcelain and bone china are the usual choices, giving the traditional afternoon-tea look while standing up to commercial dishwasher cycles. A comfortable handle and a stackable footprint matter for hotel, café and care-home service, and matching the cup, saucer and teapot from one range keeps the setting consistent. Wider, shallower shapes suit lighter teas while narrower profiles hold heat for longer.
Tea Cups — FAQs
How is a tea cup different from a mug?
Tea cups are smaller (18-22cl vs 28-40cl+ for mugs), always paired with a saucer, and usually have a finer, more traditional profile suited to table service rather than counter-service self-pour.
Bone china or vitrified porcelain for tea cups?
Bone china gives the classic thin, elegant look favoured for hotel afternoon tea, while vitrified porcelain is more chip-resistant and better suited to daily care home or café use.