The Great British tea cosy

With the resurgence of baking and all things to bake it’s great to see the most British of institutions making a welcome come back, afternoon tea. As we’ve been slowly morphing into a nation of coffee addicts the tea brigade has remained steadfast in their determination to keep the great British cuppa pouring.

A new generation of tea drinkers are looking to serving their tea correctly, a tradition which our grandparents adhered to but perhaps a few of us Boomers have allowed to lapse. Now when is a tea pot not fully dressed for duty? simple when not resplendent with its own bespoke tea cosy.

If we trace back the origins of the tea cosy although tea was first introduced to Britain in the 1600s the first documented use of a tea cosy was not ‘till 1867- a Red letter day? Credit most probably due to the Duchess of Bedford who started the afternoon tea tradition.

Main image Tea Cosy from the Imperial War Musuem shop
Website: www.iwmshop.org.uk

With a mixture of both patterns and the finished article, here’s our tea cosy top ten:

10. Knome
Website: www.cathkidson.com

9. Whittard Arun tea cosy
website: www.whittard.co.uk

8. Snail tea cosy on Etsy.com
website: www.etsy.com

7. Elephant tea cosy on Etsy.com
website: www.etsy.com

6. Tea pot from a buzybee pattern at loveknitting.com
Website: www.loveknitting.com

5.Your own tea/coffee cosy
Website: www.notonthehighstreet.com

4. M&S Coronation Tea Cosy
Website: www.marksandspencer.com

3. Time for tea and cake
Website: www.notonthehigstreet.com

2.Mr T tea cosy perfect for a cuppa and some jibba jabba!
Website: www.truffleshuffle.co.uk

1. Grandpa tea cosy from The irish around Oz blog
Website link: http://irisharoundoz.com/