Why do we love tea towels? They are versatile. They are beautiful. And they have ties with the famous Starry Night artist—  that’s right, the legendary Vincent Van Gough!

If you have ever touched the texture of a tea towel, you’d know it's a beautiful feeling of liveliness. A tea towel is unlike any other towel; different from a bath towel, beach towel, dish, and other towels. So, what exactly is a tea towel? What distinguishes a tea towel? Could it be the cloth, the diameter, or the composition of the tea towel? Let's talk about what gives tea towels that fascinating feel.

Tea towels are beyond a mere dishcloth or even an environmentally friendly alternative— it’s a piece of expressionism that comes in various designs and illustrations.

A tea towel is delicate and thin with excellent breathability, unlike heavy and bulky conventional kitchen towels. It’s made of linen or cotton, or a blend of both. A woven or embroidered pattern on it further accents its artistry. These delicate beauties are typically the same size as a traditional hand towel. They have been utilized in tea rituals, wedding ceremonies, and as souvenirs since the 18th century. It is now widely used in households and restaurants all over the world. But aside from utilizing it as a napkin in today's modern world, tea towels can also be used in innovative ways. We will shortly get to that, but first— let’s find out how tea towels differ from dish towels/ clothes.

The Distinction Between Tea Towels And Dish Towels

It wouldn’t be surprising to see someone use dish towels as tea towels, or likewise. They’ve both been mistaken for each other at some level in the towel world. While the difference between the two towels is no poles apart, there are a few crystal distinctions.

A tea towel is a ‘tea towel’ because of its characteristics—

In terms of size: Tea towels are larger than kitchen towels but smaller than bath towels.  

• In terms of texture: Tea towels have a thin, flattened, and densely woven feel. Occasionally, it is designed and embellished. Dish towels come in a variety of textures and patterns.

• In terms of material: Tea towels are often crafted with linen or 100% cotton. Kitchen and dish towels, on the other hand, are usually made of terry cloth.

• In terms of historical context: During the 18th century, upper-class English ladies used tea towels as fancy towels. It was composed of linen, a fiber obtained from the flax of linseed plants, and it accessorized the finest tables in the kingdom. Further, Van Gough, a Post-Impressionist Dutch painter and possibly the most well-known painter of all time, created still lives on tea towels— one of which sold for £2.1 million at auction. Doesn’t this make tea towels all the more poetic?

It’s simple— tea towels have beautiful designs and are decorative, whereas dish towels are more industrial in form. The latter is meant for drying hands or cleaning kitchen islands and countertops.

That being said, if you’re game, check out below the different ways you can use tea towels to add a splash of style, decor, and poetry to your surroundings.

• Lining Your Tea Trays— Classic!

As the name implies, tea towels were first used for lining the tea trays (to absorb any spillage that may occur when serving tea). They say, when in doubt, go with a classic… so don't think twice and just go for it— as the bubbling tea you serve your guests gratifies their palate, let your dreamy tea towels impress their eyes.

• Serving Food The Posh Way

Tea towels are a fantastic serving accessory for anything from a hot bowl of oatmeal to a cup of hot coffee or desserts. These soft towels absorb spills and drips while keeping the crockery in place. And what makes it even better is— placing a trendy tea towel on your dining table can make the food look more appealing and enhance the dining area decor.

• Wrapping Your Hot Rolls

Using a tea towel to wrap your rolls, muffins, and bread keeps them warm and fresh for longer. You can also wrap your baked goods as a gift. A pretty tea towel instantly improves the presentation. Also, quite obvious but— hello green world and sustainable packaging!

• Speaking Of Green—

Use tea towels as the mat for your greens— lay your vegetables down on tea towels after cleaning/washing them. This will accelerate the drying process, keeping them fresh and flavorful.

• Beauty Upgrade For Your Bathrooms

C’mon, it’s almost 2022— time to ditch the plain, old, boring bathroom towels and switch to sophisticated tea towels. Just remember to pick a towel aesthetic that complements your bathroom's decor!                            

• Stylish Kitchen Cabinet Shelves

Lining your kitchen cabinet shelves with tea towels absorbs the inconvenient water drips from freshly washed dishware and glasses. It also enhances the visual appeal of your cabinets by giving them a scenic appearance.

• As A Token Of Love

Climate change is real, and it is rapidly wearing our planet out. By choosing to give sustainable gifts to your loved ones, you’re preventing unsustainable gifts from reaching the landfill. Branded, high-quality tea towels made of 100% organic cotton are the perfect eco-friendly gifts. If you’re a company looking to give your employees holiday gifts for all their hard work this year, you can also order customized bulk tea towels to make a meaningful impact— a gift that both mother nature and receivers will appreciate and value for a lifetime.

• Go Zero-Plastic— How Fantastic!

Use the delicacy of your tea towels to wrap a present. It will make the gift look more presentable, and you’ll also be saying no to plastic wrappings.