Tea is nectar for the soul. Whether you are chatting with friends around a communal table or lounging next to a fire with a good book on your lap and a winter storm outside, tea can always make a great moment even better.
What can make tea better, though? The answer to this is in how you drink it. Tea from a cup made of metal or plastic or Styrofoam just doesn’t have the qualities necessary for tea to work its magic. Sure, glass tea mugs are adequate and many tea drinkers prefer them, but the ultimate tea mug is one that is made from ceramic.
Qualities You Cannot Dismiss
Why is ceramic the ultimate material for a tea cup? Well, there are a few reasons why this is true. As you begin to search for the best tea cup for your cup of tea, remember these are the reasons why you should choose ceramic and what you should be looking for in your mug:
- Ceramic can be colored and decorated in unique and fashionable ways to suit every style palate
- Ceramic comes in many shapes and sizes
- Ceramic cools off at a nice rate
- Ceramic is easy to clean and most tea mugs are dishwasher safe
- Ceramic resists soaking up and holding onto flavors and odors (cups that hold onto flavors and odors can cause a funny taste or a less intense taste)
Ceramic Mugs You Cannot Ignore
Now that we have discussed why ceramic mugs are the ultimate vessel for tea drinking and listed out what qualities to consider as you shop for your personal tea mug, we can begin looking at some of the best products on the market. This is going to be exciting so you may need to brew a cup of tea and come back.
Ready now? Let’s begin.
The Best Ceramic Tea Mug for Gifting
Sending someone a gift is a fabulous way to express your feelings, but sending them a special tea mug to express your feelings every time they use it. Consider tea mugs the gift that keeps on giving.
Father’s Day – Best Dad Ever Mug
Many countries celebrate dads on the third Sunday in June. Make sure you are ready this year with a mug that is entirely dedicated to your dad.
Pros
- Can be personalized
- Available in three sizes
- Available in two different color choices
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
Cons
- None
Grandparent’s Day – Grandma and Grandpa Coffee Mugs
This is a holiday to celebrate and respect grandparents. It is schedule annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Prepare for this heartwarming day by gifting your grandparents one of these lovely tea mugs.
Pros
- Customizable
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
- Available in 11oz. and 15oz.
- Designs resist cracking and peeling
- Colors can be changed upon request
Cons
- None
National Best Friends Day – Best Friends State Mug
For those friends who don’t live down the street or in a neighboring town, this mug is an awesome keepsake. This can be given any day of the year, but remember, Best Friends Day is celebrated on June 8 th.
Pros
- Available in 11oz. and 15oz.
- Available in multiple different colors
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
- Designs resist scratching, peeling, and fading
- Easy to personalize
Cons
- No returns or exchanges
National Tea Day – “But First Tea” Tea Mug
Celebrate the best day of the year with a mug that says everything a tea lover wants from every day of life. While every day is a great day to celebrate tea, there are actual holidays set apart to specifically honor this delicious drink.
Pros
- Very cute design
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
- Comes in 11oz. and 15oz. sizes
Cons
- Cannot be customized
Teacher Appreciation Day – Personalized Teacher Mug
Show how much your teacher means to you with this well-designed and completely customizable tea mug. World Teachers’ Day is held on October 5th each year.
Pros
- Can be customized with several different designs
- Can be personalized with a teacher’s name
- Available in 11oz. and 15oz. sizes
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
- Money back guarantee if you do not love it
Cons
- None
The Best Ceramic Tea Mug for Personalization – Deabolar Ceramic Photo Mugs
With this mug you can enjoy the face of your favorite person, place, or moment as you enjoy your favorite beverage. The mugs offered at this site are both unique and fun.
Pros
- Available is several different colors
- Made from environmentally friendly materials
- Easy to customize with a photo and/or text
- Photo fades when there is no hot liquid inside the cup
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Some customers have stated that shipping was slow
The Best Ceramic Tea Mug for the Winter Holidays
No matter which holiday it is, everyone deserves a tea mug to celebrate.
Christmas – Snowman Face Mug
This is a great mug that can be used all winter long to celebrate your love for holidays and for winter weather.
Pros
- It can be personalized
- It comes with several different colors and faces
- It is available in two different sizes (11oz. & 15 oz.)
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
Cons
- Computer settings will produce slight variations in colors from what is on the computer screen and what is actually printed on the mug
Easter – Easter Bunny Mini Mug
Easter usually comes in the spring, but there’s no reason why you can’t have a tea mug to celebrate this holiday. And with a mug like this one, you will certainly have a lot to celebrate.
Pros
- Comes in six different colors
- Can be personalized
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- This is a small mug (7cm. tall)
Hanukkah – Hanukkah Hug in a Mug
To send a loved one a hug that they can feel every time they sip their tea, you must get this mug. Gift it for the holidays and use it all year round.
Pros
- Can be personalized
- Available in two sizes (11oz. and 15oz.)
- Dishwasher and microwave safe
- Designed to resist peeling
Cons
- None
Mardi Gras – Watercolor Mardi Gras Mug
Prepare yourself for all the festivities surrounding this city-wide party by pouring a cup of tea in your own Mardi Gras mug.
Pros
- Holds 15 oz. of liquid
- Lovely artistic watercolor design
- Microwave and dishwasher safe
Cons
- Expect some variation in color between the mug on display and the actual mug you receive
The Best Ceramic Tea Mug without a handle – Hand Painted Ceramic Tea Mug
This is a beautiful and timeless looking tea mug that every tea lover will relish. Its intricate design and coloring will only bring more magic to a cup of tea.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Hand painted
- Reasonably priced
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Mugs without a handle are sometimes too hot to hold
What Is the Best Way to Brew Tea?
Answer: To brew a beautiful cup of tea, you should learn the amount of tea to use, the precise temperatures, and the proper brew time for the type of tea you have. For your convenience, here is a basic chart:
| Tea Type | Water Temperature | Tea per 8oz. of water | Steeping Time |
| Black Tea | 195 to 205° F | 2 to 3 teaspoons | 2 to 3 minutes |
| Flavored Green Tea | 175° F | 2 to 3 teaspoons | 2 minutes |
| Flavored White Tea | 175° F | 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons | 2 minutes |
| Green Tea | 175° F | 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons | 1 minute |
| Herbal Tea | 208° F | 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons | 5 to 6 minutes |
| Oolong Tea | 195° F | 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons | 3 minutes |
| White Tea | 175° F | 1 to 2 teaspoons | 4 to 5 minutes |
Note: Tea flavor is not brought out by longer steeping times, but by using the proper temperatures and using the proper ratio of tea leaves to water.
Soaking It All In
As a tea lover, you are certainly excited to get into the kitchen and begin brewing the best cup of tea in the best tea mug you could ask for. With the information and resources found in this guide, you will be able to do so quickly and easily.
My hope is that this information is not an overload but a resource you can refer to time and again when you need a new mug. And now, I’m ready to go brew a cup of green tea in my favorite ceramic mug.