Tea in Britain is the subject of much debate. We can argue for days over whether the milk should go in first and whether tea should be taken with sugar; what colour the perfect cuppa is; whether tea bags are a helpful convenience or a travesty. While these are important questions for us humans, one creature who doesn’t mind how the tea is served is the tiger in The Tiger Who Came to Tea. He’s happy to guzzle it straight from the teapot - and you can see him doing just that in the stage show of Judith Kerr’s bestselling picture book. Simply search ‘children’s theatre near me’ and book at your local venue. 

Whichever side you’re on regarding the perfect cup of tea, one thing most people agree on is that it’s better served in a fine bone china cup. Here are a few (very good) reasons why.
 

1. It’s non-porous

Unlike earthenware and porcelain, bone china is non-porous, meaning it doesn’t absorb any of the flavours of the tea. If you’re going to the effort of brewing the perfect cuppa, the last thing you want is for its aromas and taste to get lost or tainted. With bone china, you get a brighter, cleaner flavour that isn’t marred by the echoes of past drinks that have been made in the cup (or worse, the tang of dish soap). This makes bone china the ideal material for a fully flavourful experience
 

2. Maximum flavour

In addition to its non-porosity, bone china is extremely thin. No only does this allow the tea to cool quicker - meaning you can enjoy it sooner - it also allows for maximum exposure of the liquid to your taste buds. Trust us, drinking tea from a bone china cup really brings out its complexities. This is especially important if you’re drinking an oolong or premium black tea like Darjeeling. 
 

3. Elegance

There’s no doubt that sipping tea delicately from an elegant bone china cup is more luxurious than gulping it from a heavy mug. It encourages a little mindfulness, making you savour the taste and appreciate the drink rather than swallowing it without thought. 
 

4. Temperature

While it’s true that the tea cools a little quicker in bone china, this material is also better at retaining heat, meaning you won’t get to the bottom of the cup to find the liquid is lukewarm. Bone china cups are also smaller, allowing you to enjoy the whole cup at the perfect temperature before pouring yourself another from the pot. 

See The Tiger Who Came to Tea on tour

However you like to drink your tea, you can search ‘family theatre near me’ and join Sophie and her mummy as they play host to a hungry and thirsty tiger. The Tiger Who Came to Tea is currently touring the UK and is the perfect introduction to theatre for preschoolers. Aimed at kids aged three and up, it’s just 55 minutes long with no interval and has singing, dancing and plenty of interactive moments. Book theatre tickets for children's shows here or via your local venue.