Tea, after water, is the most consumed beverage in the world. It has been drunk since time immemorial, for thousands of years. Throughout this time, different cultures have developed their own unique way of enjoying and drinking tea, and in turn, tea has shaped these societies.
From the Japanese tea ceremony to Afternoon Tea, tea consumption has become a prominent cultural feature of many countries around the world.
This has resulted in a huge variety of teas and teaware.
In this post, we'll focus on luxury tea sets. We'll guide you in selecting the best one for you by exploring the take on luxury tea from different cultures around the world.
So if you fancy a fancy tea set but don't know where to start, you've come to the right place! We hope this post helps you in your search for a luxury tea set.
So sit back, relax, and enjoy a cup of luxury tea!
We have selected tea sets representative of different tea traditions around the world.
Some of these beautiful tea sets go beyond functionality, and may be better suited as an art piece.
Please check this page from time to time, as we are well aware we are missing important countries around the world. We’ll always be updating this list!
From China
This stunning porcelain tea set will certainly be a showpiece in any home. The artwork is beautiful and delicate, and the inner sterling silver adds a touch of luxury.
This is a very complete tea set, which includes 6 tea cups, 6 saucers, 1 teapot, 1 aroma cup, 1 gaiwan, 1 tea strainer and 1 tea washer. This means you can drink tea (show your set off) with up to 5 friends or family friends.
It also comes with a beautiful case, where you can store your tea ware when you're not using it.
This tea set may look beautiful but don't be afraid to use it. All sets by Umi Tea Sets are intended for tea drinking.
This tea set is perfect if you're looking for a present for a special occasion, or you're a tea fan looking to purchase something beautiful that will last for a long time.
Umi Tea Sets are among the best manufacturers of tea ware. They all are handcrafted and use quality materials that are environmentally and ethically sourced. They also provide worldwide free shipping, and will return
What’s best, if your tea set has any issues, or you simply don’t like it, they have a 7 day money back guarantee. Based on our experience they have excellent and prompt customer service.
If you’re ready to order this tea set, don’t forget to use our discount code!
Enamel Porcelain Tea Set With Inner Sterling Silver
Use Discount Code "YOURCOFFEEANDTEA"
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From China
Are you interested in the Gongfu tea ceremony? If so, we have found the perfect gongfu tea set for you.
We have selected this Yixing Gongfu Tea Set With Ebony Dragon Tea Tray because of its use of Yixing clay.
This type of clay comes from Yixing in the Jiangsu province, and has very good permeability. This permeability allows the tea to penetrate the clay and interact with it, enhancing the flavor.
In other words, the more you use this set the better your tea will taste as it matures. This is also one of the reasons why you should never wash these with soap!
But if you're looking to buy a high quality gongfu tea set you probably know that.
Besides the use of Yixing clay, we have selected this tea set for its beauty, which is an important consideration for the gongfu tea ceremony. We love the black color of the Yixing clay tea ware (like made black through additional mineral colors) and the dark enamel wood finishes of the tray, complemented with a fearsome dragon.
This is a large tea set, at 0.90 x 0.45 cm in length and width and weighing 13 kg, but hopefully you won't be moving it around. It is a very complete gongfu tea set that even comes with cleaning accessories.
This set includes 1 teapot, 1 gaiwan, 6 tea cups, 1 tea strainer, 1 tea caddy, an utensil tea set, a teapot brush, and tea tower and a tea tray with an induction cooker . And of course, it comes with an adorable frog tea pet.
And as we mentioned above, Umi Tea Sets are amongst the best tea ware manufacturers in the world. They use ethically and environmentally responsible sourced materials, handcraft all their sets, offer free worldwide shipping and a no-fuss 7-day money back guarantee.
If you're ready to enhance your gongfu tea ceremony this tea set is for you. Just don’t forget to use our discount code!
Yixing Gongfu Tea Set With Ebony Dragon Tea Tray
Use Discount Code "YOURCOFFEEANDTEA"
If you click this link & purchase, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Not ready to fully commit to such an expensive Gongfu tea set? Then read our gongfu tea sets article which lists gongfu tea sets for every occasion and budget.
From Japan
This Japanese luxury cast iron tea set is sure to impress your guests.
This beautiful tea set comes with a teapot, four cups, each with its own saucer. A very nice touch is the addition of the teapot stand; this avoids having to place an unsightly cloth under your precious teapot when hot.
We contacted Umi Tea Sets and we can confirm that this set comes with a strainer as well, even though it’s not indicated on their site.
All the pieces are made of cast iron, with detailed engravings featuring a dragon with a beautiful gold finish. The tea pot handle is also golden, and features organic shapes inspired from vegetation.
The attention to detail of this set is insane. All of these pieces are beautifully decorated with intricate engraved patterns. We really love the rough texture of the teapot; it gives this set a vintage feel, as if time had left its mark through erosion, even though this is a brand new set.
Given the use of high quality cast iron, its beauty and reasonable price, this tea set is a very good investment as it should last decades if not generations, if you take good care of it. In other words, this tea set could become a family heirloom.
Japanese Cast Iron Golden Dragon Tea Set
Use Discount Code "YOURCOFFEEANDTEA"
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Looking for more cast iron teapots? Then check our post to discover cast iron teapots suitable for different budgets and categories.
From Japan
If you are into vintage tea sets then we’ve found this rare gem. This is an antique piece that could be showcased in a museum, and could be yours if you can afford it.
This antique luxury tea set from Japan is a work of art. It is made of solid silver (Sterling 925 standard - meaning made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other alloys), and the detail on each piece is exquisite.
The set was made in Yokohama by the now defunct Samurai Shokai in the early 1900s, and includes the Samurai Shokai engravings.
This vintage tea set features simple yet classic shapes, with each piece being different from each other yet recognizable as being part of the same tea set.
All pieces are embossed with beautiful iris flowers and other vegetation. No effort was spared, the craftsmanship is outstanding as can be seen by the detailed precision work. From far the textures of this tea set look smooth, but when you take a closer look you can see a subtle pebbled texture. This texture is not distracting at all from the embossed iris flowers and vegetation.
This double-walled silver 8-piece set includes a kettle, coffee pot, tea pot, sugar bowl, waist bowl, cream jug, tea caddy, sugar tongs and tray.
It’s deemed to be in excellent condition, without any damage.
Upon request, Pushkin Antiques offer a Certificate of Authenticity and a valuation certificate for insurance (yes, you should definitely insure this tea set!) This should ease your mind as purchasing expensive antiques can be unnerving.
Such an exceptional piece can become a family heirloom, as its value would be expected to increase as these sets become more difficult to find.
Antique Japanese Solid Silver Massive Tea & Coffee Service on Tray c. 1900
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From United Kingdom
This luxury tea set from the United Kingdom is designed and made by one of the finest and most famous porcelain manufacturers in the world, Wedgwood.
The Fine Bone China set features a beautiful hummingbird design on each piece, with delicate flowers and leaves on a whilte background. The colors are subtle and would be perfect for a summer afternoon tea.
22 Carat gold adorns the outer edges of all 3 pieces, the Queen would certainly approve of this set, making you feel like royalty.
This set comes with a teapot, sugar bowl and creamer mug. Please note that this set does not include tea cups or saucers, but Wedgewood has some beautiful ones that you can select to complete your set.
Wedgwood offers a 30-day refund policy if you are not satisfied with the product; however, the return shipping cost is at your expense. However, if your tea set is damaged, faulty or does not match what you ordered, Wedgwood covers shipping expenses.
There is a more complete set at Harrods (see link below) but at a higher cost. Nevertheless, given this is a 15-piece set, it offers better value for what you pay.
The hummingbird tea set sold at Harrods includes the same three pieces as above, that is, a teapot, sugar bowl and creamer mug, as well as 6 tea cups and 6 tea saucers.
With this tea set you can host a fancy Afternoon Tea party and impress all your guests. Just make sure you invite us!
If you would like the 3-piece set, you can buy it from Wedgwood (and you can purchase separate tea cups to create your own unique set). Otherwise, if you prefer matching tea cups and saucer, it’s best to purchase from Harrods.
See links below!
Wedgwood Hummingbird 3-Piece Set
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Wedgwood Hummingbird 15-Piece Set
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From United Kingdom
This luxury tea set from the United Kingdom is designed by world-famous designer Nina Campbell.
This Fine Bone China set is entirely handcrafted in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Each piece features a beautiful floral design, with a blue lithodora on a white background. This simple yet elegant design is reminiscent of outdoor summer gatherings.
The tea set comes with a teapot, a sugar bowl, a milk jug, two cups and two saucers.
You can purchase separate tea cups and sauces of the same exact design if you wish from the Halcyon Days website, if you live with more than one tea fan at home, or are hoping to host an afternoon tea.
The set comes in a luxury gift box, making it the perfect present for any occasion.
If after receiving your set you decide you don’t like it, you can return it within 30 days as per Halcyon Days’ policies. However, the set must be unused, with its original tags and packaging.
This is the perfect set if you would like to get into the ritual of afternoon tea. Given its high quality, this set will last you for a long time, and will remind you of that one time you decided to embark into the journey of tea…
Nina Campbell Marguerite Tea Set for 2
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As per the Guinness World Records, a teapot called the Egoist is worth $3 million. Why is it so expensive? Well, this pot features a mammoth ivory handle, an 18k gold base, 1658 diamonds and 386 rubies, one of which is a huge 6.67 carat thai ruby.
A 500-year old Qing dynasty tea cup was sold for £21 million (over $36 million) to a Chinese art collector! Affectionately known as the chicken cup, it is a small porcelain featuring chickens and flowers. It is claimed Emperor Qianlong used this same cup.
Check for any stamps to see who the manufacturer was. Sometimes these include numbers or reference codes that can be used to find that specific piece, and when it was made. Also, any damage (even small chips or cracks) can lower the value of your tea ware. So check for that too!
Yes! But make sure you do your homework! For example, Etsy requires that an item be more than 20 years old to be listed as vintage. This may not fit with your own definition of vintage.
There are luxury tea sets from all around the world to suit any taste. Whether you prefer handcrafted china or cast iron, there is a set out there for you.
So, what are you waiting for? Start sipping like a queen or king today!
By the way, make sure to visit this page from time to time as we'll be expanding this list to include more regions around the world, including tea sets made from different materials such as glass and jade!
And if a luxury tea set is out of your budget, then buy the best teapot instead, which will still allow you to enjoy the art of tea!