Britain returns to cups & saucers....

The cup and saucer revival: Britain turns away from mugs and back to traditional tea

By LUKE SALKELD
Last updated at 2:42 AM on 10th November 2010

It's fair to say the British are no mugs when it comes to a refreshing brew.

And sales figures show tea aficionados have decided they don’t like drinking from them either.

In the last 12 months the public has turned its back on mugs in favour of serving Britain’s national drink in its traditional vessel, the tea cup. 

Traditional flavour: The cup and saucer combination, left, has proved more popular with consumers than mugs

The crockery has been flying off the shelves at department store Debenhams, which yesterday announced a huge increase in sales of 119 per cent compared to last year.

In addition, demand for cake stands at the store has risen by 57 per cent, while purchases of tea pots and plates are also on the up.

According to retail experts, the return to the cup and saucer has in part been influenced by an unlikely figure – the American pop star Lady Gaga. 

A devotee of the drink, earlier this year she was at the centre of a bidding war between tea manufacturers to be the face of their brand – and apparently she knows how to drink it.

In response to the increase in sales of refined teaware, experts yesterday warned against a social faux pas commonly made when enjoying a cuppa – raising the little finger.

A spokesman for Debenhams said: ‘While the uneducated may feel that raising of the little finger is de rigueur with their Darjeeling and proper with their PG, Gaga’s pinkie remains firmly aligned to her remaining digits – the correct way to take your cuppa.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328295/The-cup-saucer-revival-Britain-turns-away-mugs-traditional-tea.html#ixzz14qc0I71H