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Tea on a saucer

drinking from the saucer had originated in 19th-century Russia because of the near-boiling temperatures at which the tea was served. The flat surface helped with the cooling, and like Steinbock, he said this reflected social distinction. The drinking from the saucer is actually a Swedish tradition. it says that: Certainly it's an old tradition in Sweden. You pour the coffee from your cup into the saucer and sip it - usually quite noisily - after blowing a little on it (to cool it). some think hot tea gives you cancer
 
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I thought it was to cool the tea quickly. I remember my grandad always having (what seemed like) an enormous enamel cup and he’d first pour some onto a saucer. Never really questioned why at the time, but think it can only be to cool the tea. Don’t know if it was ever done with coffee. Viv.
 
Thinking of trying this out over Christmas - be interesting to see what the reaction is ! Viv.
 
I remember a few rather mature mature women drinking tea from saucers when I was a nipper, I could never understand the idea behind it . It always looked rather strange if not unclean to me
 
Compo was the first person that crossed my mind and I have the feeling that Albert Steptoe also qualifies. I was always informed in my formative years that it was vulgar. However, I realized that some folk cannot, or do nor like, to drink very hot tea so resort to cooling in the saucer. I don't like very hot drinks, but I let mine cool in cup or mug (beaker as Hyacinth would say).
 
I am thinking that we adapted our food service à la russe, service in the Russian style where courses are bought to the table sequentially. So, the Traditional way of drinking tea in Russia, was from the tea saucer itself too.
 
Morturn said:
I am thinking that we adapted our food service à la russe, service in the Russian style where courses are bought to the table sequentially. So, the Traditional way of drinking tea in Russia, was from the tea saucer itself too.
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I never knew my grandad Durant ever drinking tea or coffee any way other than slurping it from a saucer. It fascinated me as a kid, but I accepted it as part of his character.
Personally, a cup of coffee is a small crock cup that can be drunk in half a dozen sips. A friend recently took me for a "birthday treat" and knowing how much I loathe and detest pint size cardboard tubs of coffee, ordered me a "cup of coffee".
The "cup" turned out to be a pint size crock basin with a handle on one side; filled to the brim making it necessary to use both hands to pick it up and after about three sips I abandoned the stupid thing!
Boomy
 
Slight off topic a bit, but living in Spain some people mainly the younger ones drink their coffee with the tea spoon in cup/glass, what's all that about tried it once poked my self in the eye.
 
my guests can not suck from my saucers,i aint got none. i use mugs. you can slurp from them
 
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Same here, only special guests get cups & saucers. It halves the washing up! Don't have to worry about breaking one and spoiling a set, because we don't have a set of mugs to start with! Cups & saucers are used so rarely that that we haven't broken any that are part of a dining set we bought fifteen years ago.

Maurice
 
jmadone said:
We never had saucers, we just drank straight out of the jamjar:D:D:D
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A jam jar indeed, you must have been posh! All we had was an old bully beef tin & with 25 of us & me being the youngest by the time it got to me all that was left was tea leaves.:imp:
 
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