British Invented The Term Tea Towel

Britain was the very first country to coin the ‘Tea Towels‘ term.

During the 19th Century, around 1870, Great Britain’s Linen Tea Towels were a unique drying out cloth that the lady of the home would use to dry out costly pieces of China.

With its delicate weave, linen was considered the material of preference as it wouldn’t normally damage pieces of fine china or glasses.

British servants were arraigned with hand hemming and hand embroidering the tea towels. Each tea towel was stitched carefully, with many of them turning out to be the subject of family treasures passed down generations.

Linen was considered the top usage of soft material; however it did require a lot of handheld attention. Water temperatures couldn’t be that toasty so all linen would have to be strung out to dry from the sunlight. When the tea towel was just a little bit damp, it needed to be ironed on the reverse side.

It is widely recognised that British people like their tea and pride themselves on how they serve it. At tea parties the table was incredibly covered with the very best of linens and the most beautiful crystals and China, including matching napkins and tea towels.

Dry and clean tea towels were often used as a tea cosy twisted around the teapot to protect and keep the pot warm, and a basket warmer to keep tea scones, tea cakes or muffins hot and fresh.

Tea towels were bulk produced by the Industrial Revolution with businesses nowadays creating Cotton Tea Towels and other home kitchen fabric products featuring a variation of pictures, pictures, trends and trends.