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Wilpeter Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

"a tea"

A minor correction by AlpheccaStars in editing a translation yesterday (removing “a” before “tea”) led me to realise that I know of no place in North America where I would confidently order “a tea”. I drink tea perhaps five times a day at home, but only in a small island in the Atlantic can you “take tea”. Some of the better ‘caffs’ in London still serve it in a pottery teapot at your table, with enough boiling water for a refill, as your cup’s contents cool down. A small jug of milk is provided and “top ups” of boiling water may be requested. So “a tea” is a lot more than “a cup of” or “one”. Tea is usually cheaper than coffee; although in “posh” restaurants not so much so, since they insist on providing a plate of biscuits or pastries when you order “tea for two”.
  

Top answer

wilpeter Some of the better ‘caffs’ in London still serve it in a pottery teapot This is strange. topic=ceramics-and-pottery ?

— Anonymous

  • wilpeter Some of the better ‘caffs’ in London still serve it in a pottery teapot This is strange.
  • topic=ceramics-and-pottery ?
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10 Answers
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wilpeterSome of the better ‘caffs’ in London still serve it in a pottery teapot
This is strange. Did you mean china http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/china_1 , ceramic
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Ordering "a tea" is almost unknown, but the article will be required if you qualify your order thusly: "I'll have a small tea." This rule appears not to apply to other beverages, like coffee and bourbon, which happily take a preceding article.
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AnonymousDid you mean china
No. I'm sure some use real china, some ceramic or porcelain. I was generically distinguishing pottery from metalware or cardboard containers.
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deadratOrdering "a tea" is almost unknown
Thank you, deadrat. I take it you're confirming my belief on behalf of a portion of USA. I'm not widely travelled in USA.
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I checked on the google's ngram server. They claim they gather data from "lots of books," but I believe that they tap directly into the minds of well, of everybody.
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Sometimes In the US, when I order tea I get a cup of hot water with a tea bag sitting beside it.

Clive
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deadratthey tap directly into the minds of well, of everybody
Websites depend heavily on these tools, so I don't disbelieve them. I do point out that I am referring specifically to verbal orders at a tea-serving facility in England.
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wilpeter AnonymousDid you mean chinaNo. I'm sure some use real china, some ceramic or porcelain. I was generically distinguishing pottery from metalware or cardboard containers.
It's an unusual and strange use of the word pottery.
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I'm likely an unusual and strange person. I suggest you read "crockery" for "pottery", if it makes a difference to your mental picture of a cup and saucer. Try to picture it without a noticeable chip, and with a teaspoon (made of metal) nestled comfortably in the saucer. If you imagine in colour, as some do, feel free to pick one of your own liking for the matching cup and saucer.
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I'd use china teapot of http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6952919 and .

I wouldn't use pottery teapot but, if I heard it, I'd think of
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