If you cruise the antique stores or online sites that specialize in classic teawares, you’ve come across the tea trio set. There are some folks who even collect them in different patterns from different makers for a truly eclectic tea time.

A tea trio set consists of a teacup, a saucer, and a dessert plate, all usually made of fine bone china and in the same pattern from the same manufacturer. A number of well-known pottery companies have made them, mostly during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Minton, one of the brands under the Waterford Wedgwood Group, made a beautiful design called “Toronto” specifically for theU.S.market.

The other Waterford Wedgwood brands Royal Doulton and Royal Albert turned out a number of patterns. China Mystique, Silver Birch, Indian Summer, China Art Deco Tulip, and Lady Carlyle are some of these. Spode is another well-known maker, featuring such patterns as Grandmother’s Rose. Staffordshire, another reputable company, has a wonderful Butterfly pattern and a Flowers with Green Bird pattern, to name two.

The more unusual sets have a squared off dessert plate, as opposed to a round one. Regardless of the shape they all work the same. You put the teacup on the saucer and fill the cup with tea. You take the dessert plate in hand and pile it high with goodies. Then, you find a comfortable place to sit, drink tea and eat goodies. Don’t waste precious time with idle chit chat. As soon as the tea and goodies have been consumed, rush back to the teapot and serving trays for their refills. Repeat as often as possible.

If any of the tea time attendees considers this behavior a bit piggish, just tell them that the tea trio set made you do it. You can always buy some for your own tea time and then your guests can be the pigout champs!

© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.