How was a tea caddy used?
A tea caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. When first introduced to Europe from Asia, tea was extremely expensive, and kept under lock and key. The containers used were often expensive and decorative, to fit in with the rest of a drawing-room or other reception room.
How was tea stored in the 18th century?
Tea Storage – Late 17th to mid 18th Century “tea boxes” were being advertised by cabinetmakers. These tea boxes were designed to hold canisters in wood or metal. As tea was a valuable commodity, tea boxes came with lock and key, lest the tea be pilfered.
Why is it called a tea caddy?
Where Does the Caddy Get Its Name? The term ‘caddy’ is derived from the Chinese word ‘catty’, a Chinese pound, which is a unit of weight equivalent to 600 grams. This is also the measurement by which tea used to be sold. The English picked up the word and started using the word caddy to mean a container for tea.
What were tea caddies lined with?
Caddies of this period were commonly lined with a tin lead alloy called “tea pewter”. Internal lids were often unfixed so that they dropped onto the tea surface to keep it fresher.
What is an English tea caddy?
Tea caddy (one of a pair) early 19th century British. The term caddy, now used for any tea container, derived from the Eastern word kati, meaning about 12/3 pounds. Caddies were ornamental boxes fitted with one- or two-lidded compartments. Of elliptical shape, this delicate example is decorated with rolled paperwork.
What is a tea caddy spoon?
A caddy spoon is a spoon used for measuring out tea in the form of dried tea leaves. Traditionally made of silver, they were in common use in the 19th century, when tea was a more expensive commodity.
What did tea taste like in the 1700s?
Tea was not a robust [vulgar] vegetable, but was a sophisticated and delicate plant. Having noted that there were different kinds of tea, which he called Bohe, Singlo and Bing, Ovington then described their different appearance and taste. (i) Bohea, he says, ‘generally tinges the Water brown, or of a reddish Colour’.
What is a mote spoon?
noun. a small spoon with a pierced bowl for removing tea leaves from a cup of tea.
What are caddy spoons used for?
How much did tea cost in the 1700s?
Brick tea was known and available to the European buyers at Canton. The price of tea in the colonies varied from an early price of 24 shillings per pound to a low of 1 shilling 9 pence per pound in 1768.
How did people in the 1700s make tea?
To brew tea, hot water was poured into the teapot and allowed to sit a few minutes to warm the pot. The water was then poured out, tea placed into the pot, and boiling water poured over the tea. This was steeped five to eight minutes, the tea leaves drained, and the cup of fresh tea served.
Did poor Victorians drink tea?
Tea was the staple drink. Coffee might be consumed at breakfast even by the poorest, but in the form of chicory/coffee mixture. Breakfast was generally bread, occasionally with butter. For the poorest a sandwich of bread and watercress was the most common.
What did colonists drink instead of tea?
coffee
Previously, the Townshend Revenue Act taxed a number of imported goods, including tea. Colonists boycotted those goods and, accordingly turned to drinking coffee instead as a form of protest.
What is a cream soup spoon?
Definition of cream-soup spoon : a round-bowled spoon slightly shorter than a standard soup spoon.
What is a luncheon fork?
Luncheon forks are slightly smaller than the dinner fork, generally feature straight tines, and are used for meals and gatherings before dinner. Also, the luncheon fork can double as a youth or children’s fork and can be used with the luncheon knife and five o’clock teaspoon.
How much did tea cost in the 1800s?
Tea at that time was extremely expensive at 10 shillings per pound, in comparison with chocolate which sold at 3 shillings a pound; chocolate with added sugar was only 2 shillings and 6 pence a pound.
What did Victorians eat for tea?
A Victorian tea menu consisted of finger sandwiches (cucumber sandwiches were a common feature), and assorted sweets such as scones, cakes and other pastries. Beverages included teas and lemonade. To accompany the tea, lemon slices, cream and sugar were placed on the table.
What is an octagonal tea caddy?
The octagonal late Georgian satinwood caddy (Fig. 9) is fairly plain on its vertical surfaces but beautifully inlaid on its top (Fig 10). Larger Tea Caddies were made throughout the 19th Century, incorporating two lidded smaller caddies positioned either side of a fine cut glass bowl.
Where were caddies made in medieval times?
Most caddies were lockable, the key being kept by the mistress of the House, as tea was very expensive as the servants were not to be totally trusted! Many examples were made in Holland, principally of the earthenware of Delft. There were also many English factories producing high quality goods.
What is a tea caddie made of?
The earliest examples that came to Europe were of Chinese porcelain, and approximated in shape to the ginger-jar. (Fig. 1) They had lids or stoppers, likewise of china, and were most frequently blue and white. Until about 1800 they were called tea canisters rather than caddies. Earlier tea caddies were made of either porcelain or faience.
What is a tea pewter Caddy?
Caddies of this period were commonly lined with a tin lead alloy called “tea pewter”. Internal lids were often unfixed so that they dropped onto the tea surface to keep it fresher. In the opinion of many collectors, Ivory Caddies are the most desirable (and therefore expensive!).