5 Spectacular Teacup Styles You'll Love

Choosing the perfect size teacup might be a little more complicated than you expected. With so many sizes and styles available the possibilities can become overwhelming. But, we’re here to help you out. 

In today’s blog, we are going to talk about the many benefits of different-sized teacups and why there are so many variations for standard teacup sizes. You’ll also get a list of our favorite styles that work with every kind of tea lover’s lifestyle and process. 

In last week’s blog, we walked you through how to choose the best teapot size. You might assume that you’ll want smaller or larger cups based on your teapot size. But just because you buy a small teapot doesn’t mean you’ll want a small teacup and the same goes for large teacups and teapots. 

In fact, the kind of teacup you choose might have little to do with the kind of teapot you purchase. Instead, you may find that the teacup you choose has more to do with your opinions about how tea should be enjoyed. This usually starts with your cultural understanding of tea.

Eastern and Western tea traditions are vastly different and so are the teapots and teacups that accompany these traditions. 

The Standard Teacup Size in the West

Western tradition is all about abundance and aplenty which means teapots are large and robust. Westerners aren’t shy about sharing more than enough tea with guests. If you grew up having Afternoon Tea you may find the idea of overindulgence appealing — it’s part of the fun! 

The average teapot size is about 4 cups, but teapots can get much larger. It’s not uncommon to see multiple large pots of tea sitting at a tea party table with decent-sized cups waiting to be filled and refilled. You’ll probably drink so much tea that you’ll feel ready to float away. 

The standard teacup size in the West is about 6 to 8 ounces. It’s not uncommon to find Westerners drinking from larger mugs of tea which average about 8 to 12 ounces. These mugs and teacups usually have a handle and most afternoon teacups sit on a saucer.

The Standard Teacup Size in the East

Eastern tea tradition is all about precision and patience which means teapots hold only a small amount of water. Teapots in Japan are built for ceremony and precise movements and hold about 1.5 cups of water. Chinese teapots are even smaller and rarely exceed 1 cup of water. 

Eastern teapots might seem a little too small for a Westerner’s taste, but the petite size has so much culture and tradition rooted in its design. Small teapots allow the tea to be steeped and drained immediately which means the tea leaves can be enjoyed for multiple steeps. If “abundance” is the theme of Western teatime, “satisfied” may be the theme in the Eastern world.

Japanese and Chinese standard teacup sizes are about 1 to 4 ounces each. The size of the teacups has less to do with the size of the teapot and more to do with the ritual of taking your time with tea. Whether you drink tea alone or share with guests, you do so with the mindset of enjoying every sip from every cup that’s poured for you.

It’s not uncommon for the host to fill a small teapot 2 or 3 times while you sit and talk. The ritual of filling the teapot and serving guests is forged around the idea of humility, respect, and living in the moment.

5 of Our Favorite Teacup Recommendations

Here are some of our favorite standard teacup size recommendations. We’ve also paired them with some of our favorite teapots. You should always consider your tea lifestyle so you pick the perfect teaware sizes for your unique situation.

1. Large Mugs for Abundant Tea Drinkers

If you are a hearty tea drinker who enjoys one hefty cup of tea after another, the Oversized Double Wall Mugs might be the best teacup selection for you. These large and sturdy mugs hold up to 17 ounces of tea. They pair exceptionally well with the Dublin Glass Teapot which comes in a large 40-ounce size. This is the ideal pairing that serves one or two tea-obsessed individuals.

2. Handled Cups for Traditional Western Tea

If you want the traditional Afternoon Tea look and feel, the Royal Teacup and Saucer Set is the way to go. These standard teacup sizes come in 6 and 8 ounces. The Vienna Glass Teapot is a beautiful compliment to any type of tea event from a simple Cream Tea to an elegant Champagne Tea.

3. Small Cups for Precision and Tea Tasting

If you follow the traditions of Japan and China and seek out high-quality teas, the Handle-Free Teacup Tasting Set will bring your tea-tasting experiences to the next level. These small 3.4-ounce cups are ideal for sipping and comparison. Pair your teacups with a few Small Tea Presses so you can steep and taste-test many teas at once.

4. Tiny Cups for Traditional Eastern Tea

If you love the idea of Eastern tea practices the Handle-Free Tea Cups are the ideal choice for standard teacup sizes. Each cup holds a humble 5 ounces of tea or less. If you’re looking for a beautiful matching tea set the Classica Tea Collection comes with a teapot and 4 matching teacups that are perfect for friend and family gatherings. It’s a tea set that will become a daily staple in your household.

5. Teacup for Solo Tea Time

In line with the Eastern tradition of steeping many times, the Kyoto Large Teacup pairs perfectly with the Kyoto Glass Teapot. Each is 12 ounces, which will allow you to completely drain your teapot after each steep. Now, you can enjoy a second and third round of tea and appreciate all of the stages of your favorite oolongs and greens.

Find the Best Teaware at Teabloom

Explore exquisite standard teacup sizes and teaware handcrafted by some of the best artisans in the world. Teabloom carries the largest selection of beautiful borosilicate glass teaware made with sustainability and health in mind. 

From the very beginning, Teabloom has been on a heartfelt mission to clean up the tea industry. They believe healthier tea starts with ethical tea harvesting practices and is perfected through chemical-free materials and thoughtful teaware design. 

Find your new favorite teacup at Teabloom, today.

www.Teabloom.com