Britain was the very first country to invent the ‘Tea Towels’ expression.

During the 19th Century, approximately 1870, Great Britain’s Linen Tea Towels were a unique drying material that the woman of the home would use to dry expensive items of China.

With its fine weave, linen was considered the fabric of choice as it wouldn’t scratch bits of fine china or glass ware.

British servants were charged with hand hemming and hand embroidering the tea towels. Each tea towel was padded with care, with many of them becoming the subject of family treasures passed along decades.

Linen was deemed the best usage of soft fabric; nonetheless it did require a lot of hand held care. Water temperatures couldn’t be that toasty so all linen would have to be strung out to dry from the sun’s rays. When the tea towel was just a little bit damp, it needed to be ironed on the opposite side.

It is widely known that British people like their tea and pride themselves on the way they serve it. At tea parties the table was incredibly dressed with the greatest of linens and the most beautiful crystals and China, including coordinating serviettes and tea towels.

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

Tea towels were bulk made by the Industrial Revolution with businesses nowadays creating Cotton Tea Towels and other kitchen linen goods displaying a variation of images, images, styles and designs.