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On December 27, I spent an entire afternoon perusing tea-related trinkets. I hovered on tea pots with frivolous names like “Country House” and “Burleigh Calico.” I scrolled through kitschy sugar bowls crafted like cabbages. And for longer than I’d like to admit, I seriously and deeply pondered whether I was “more” of an Earl Grey or English Breakfast person.
“I’ve seen you drink tea, like, once,” my friend muttered as she looked over my shoulder. “I drink tea!” I shot back defensively. “Just maybe not this year or anything.”
I blame binge-watching. The day before, I had spent my evening immersed in Shonda Rhimes’s Bridgerton. The Netflix show, which chronicles the love lives and misdeeds of genetically blessed aristocrats, ushered Regency Era England back into my, and our, collective aesthetic consciousness. It was a period of art! Lavish ornamentation! And, more noticeable to me, tea parties with dainty, delftware dishes and delectable confections. When Daphne Bridgerton lounged in her sitting room, waiting for suitors, she was surrounded by an array of stylish saucers. Penelope Featherington snacked on sophisticated sandwiches while her snarky sisters sat nearby. Meanwhile, Queen Anne ordered her subjects to both sip and spill the tea. With a few quick clicks and a “buy now,”I suddenly found myself part of the tea set-set.
Turns out, I was far from alone.
This month, Google searches for “tea” reached an all-time high in the United States. Etsy experienced a 110 percent increase in searches for tea sets compared to January 2020. Pinterest has also seen several loose-leaf inquiries skyrocket. “People often turn to Pinterest in search of ways to bring these popular pop culture moments into their daily routine, and in this case, Pinners are searching all things tea related,” says Swasti Sarna, Pinterest’s Insights Manager. “Searches for ‘afternoon tea at home’ have increased, and along with it, ‘creamy tea recipes,’ ‘tea sets vintage’ and ‘victorian tea sets.’” Their top term? “Elegant tea sets,” which is up 65 percent year over year.
It’s not exactly a new phenomenon: pop culture has often influenced our purchases. Sex and the City made Manolo Blahnik a household name. Little Women ignited our passion for prairie dresses. Hell, even Emily in Paris led to a statistical spike in bucket hat interest. So provided it proved popular, Bridgerton was always likely to usher in the arrival of Regencycore. (For example, Etsy shoppers, according to the company, are also looking for lace gloves and corsets.)
But the arrival of Bridgerton also coincided with something else: nine-plus months of lockdown. For almost a year now, we’ve been slovenly rocking sweatpants and top knots while meandering around our own homes. And while, at first, many of us held onto the hope that things would go back to normal, it doesn’t look like our circumstances will change anytime soon. Instead, we have to find joy in our housebound existence.
So when presented with scenes of women dolled up in empire-waist dresses, enjoying themselves with soothing drinks and sweet treats in their living rooms, is there any wonder we instantly latched on?
“One of the surprising effects of us spending more time at home during the pandemic and watching shows like Bridgerton, is that we have experienced a pleasant reminder that we can be fabulous in our own homes, dressed in beautiful garments, sipping tea with our pinky up,” Stephanie Synclair, founder of luxury tea company La Rue 1680, told Vogue.
Then there’s the health aspect: drinking wine on your couch is, sure, usually a good time. But alcohol is also a depressant that, if over-served, leads to a hangover. Meanwhile, tea is known for its plethora of mental and physical benefits. “COVID has made us reprioritize our health and self-care needs,” says Synclair.
Not to mention that a “tea for two” is a relatively safe pandemic-era activity that provides both sustenance and socialization. The drink is easy to brew, and its accompanying serving-ware is usually quite pretty without being exorbitantly expensive. The whole ordeal feels both effortless and extravagant.
“I think we’re looking for ways to make everyday moments—like our morning or evening routines—feel a little more special and sophisticated,” says Etsy Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson. What better way to do that than with a beautiful tea set?”
Inspired to invest in your own tea party tools? Below, Madeline Swanson, Vogue‘s market editor and avid tea enthusiast, shares her suggestions for a sip-and swoon-worthy afternoon.
Pour the Tea
The prettiest teapots for the haute mad-hatters among us.
Bottoms up
Cups and saucers that will make a statement.
Sweet Servers
Show off your milk and sugar.
Tiers of Joy
Perfect for serving scones, sandwiches, or teacakes.
Floral Notes
The tea that you won t want to stop sipping.
