I wish I had a cat I could blame this on

October 7, 2013 2:48 PM

I broke my tea mug and I need a new one.

Looking for the absolute greatest tea mug in the world. Don't need anything like insulation or built in strainers or any of that nonsense; it needs to hold at least 12oz of tea and it needs to be beautiful and useful. It doesn't need words or pictures. Other than that, go nuts. I'd prefer to keep cost in the single or double digits but believe me I can be talked into some shit.

posted by villanelles at dawn to Shopping (32 answers total)

HI HI

I have one with a lid that I got in chinatown and it is the best because everything stays warmer longer.

Also I like the fat pony mug.
posted by elizardbits at 2:57 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

This dragonfly mug from ten thousand villages is my current tea mug. It's nice and big and feels good in my hands.
posted by quaking fajita at 3:01 PM on October 7, 2013

elizardbits is correct, the fat pony mug is the best mug
posted by corvine at 3:03 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

I am fond of this owl mug (several colors to choose from). It's 16 oz and has a nice heft to it.

Hard to argue with fat pony, I have to say.
posted by O9scar at 3:04 PM on October 7, 2013

Denby makes some sweet-ass mugs. But the absolute greatest tea mug in the world is probably not linkable, because it is unique and was handmade by a local potter!
posted by RogerB at 3:14 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

I have and love the Essential Mug from Crate & Barrel. It's simple but comforting to hold either by the handle or the bowl of the mug, it holds 15 ounces, and even factoring in shipping it stays in the single digits.
posted by payoto at 3:16 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: There's really nothing more lovely than Heath Ceramics. We use their Large Mug at home (in various mix and match colors); it's a delight to hold and drink from.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:21 PM on October 7, 2013 [4 favorites]

Consider an unbreakable one from Kleen Kanteen, get one of their "to go" caps and you're set. Mr dbmcd and I have had a pair of these for over a year, and I'm amazed at how long tea stays hot in them (hours, with the lid 'closed')!
They come in cool colors too.
posted by dbmcd at 3:39 PM on October 7, 2013

You need a Chuckle Bean Mug from Cadburyworld in Bournville. That one's mine, here's someone else's with better lighting and no chip. Ebay has listings, although mine's about 15 years old so its hardly vintage. It's large, has a cheerful face, keeps the tea warm because of the narrow mouth, and leaves a distinctive happy footprint.
posted by shelleycat at 3:43 PM on October 7, 2013

I don't know how I forgot this one from CB2. For the price I bought 2.
posted by O9scar at 3:44 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'm a sucker for anything iittala. I used to have this Taika mug in red. It held lots of coffee and was gorgeous. Made me happy every day. Unfortunately, I broke mine and I now use this Origo mug with the handle. They're a bit pricey compared to the other suggestions in this thread, but I highly recommend these.
posted by misozaki at 3:45 PM on October 7, 2013

ALSO Shinzi Katoh makes really cute mugs that have lids and little bowls that fit on top so you can have a piece of cake or cookies with your tea in something that balances perfectly on top of the mug so you can carry it over to your blankie fort without spilling.
posted by elizardbits at 3:56 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

Finally! The perfect thing to buy from Etsy.com.

Squirrel mug got 71 hits (although 1 is a candle and 7 are jewelry, most are mugs). There's squirrel as part of the handle, squirrel figure in the bottom of the mug -- pretty much every combination of "squirrel" and "mug".

I bet they have cat mugs, flower mugs, dragonfly mugs, solid mugs - everything.
posted by amtho at 3:59 PM on October 7, 2013

omg also also there is the rattlesnake mug that Craig Ferguson has but it is not as authentically awesome as one from the actual rattlesnake museum in Albuquerque.
posted by elizardbits at 4:07 PM on October 7, 2013

Fat pony is good, but hunks is better. Or Glam Breakfast. I have trouble deciding which one I like more. take note, future secret Quonsar

But if you want simplicity, I adore my Fire King Jadeite mug. You can find them for cheapish in antique shops and on eBay (way cheaper than the one I linked), and they are absolutely beautiful.
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:08 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

My most favorite tea mug from Bay Pottery, 16 oz, $25.
posted by ellenaim at 4:11 PM on October 7, 2013

Love this mug. I bought just one at World Market for $5. It is Large.
posted by michellenoel at 4:22 PM on October 7, 2013

I have a plain white heavy ceramic mug, straight-sided, large handle, 3.5in diameter, 4.5in tall. It holds 16 US fl oz. No name. It is a mug that would not look out of place in the canteen of The Dam Busters, and is therefore the best tea mug.
posted by holgate at 4:52 PM on October 7, 2013

for very cheap options...

I had one of these chinatown mugs forever, and it was awesome.


Now I use something slightly nicer looking like this goldfish one. (mine has a fugu on it and it is mightly adorable).


but basically the pearl river mart website is kind of awesome, and brings the same stuff you can get in chinatown to our door. (the NYC store is kind of overwhelmingly awesome)


the Museum of Natural History in NYC has some gorgeous mugs usually... I like this whale one they've currently got. they tend to be on the big side though. (which might be a bonus)
posted by larthegreat at 5:01 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

Tea Table has some things, but if you are willing to be flexible about the size then Beehouse has tasteful, beautiful tea cups. I admit that I use my university beer glass mug for tea because it holds SO MUCH and other times London Underground mugs call but for a sturdy feel my MPR Red Wing mug is great and if you like that traditional heavy feel here is Redwing's Mugs.
posted by jadepearl at 5:35 PM on October 7, 2013

Seconding the owl mug listed above by O9scar. I will not drink my tea out of anything else now.
posted by skycrashesdown at 6:00 PM on October 7, 2013

I have the same Crate and Barrel mug that payoto linked to and it is my One True Mug. Not fancy, but it's the perfect size and soothingly plain.
posted by MadamM at 6:14 PM on October 7, 2013

Response by poster: There's really nothing more lovely than Heath Ceramics. We use their Large Mug at home (in various mix and match colors); it's a delight to hold and drink from.


Oh my.
posted by villanelles at dawn at 6:25 PM on October 7, 2013

I live within walking distance of a Heath Ceramics place and I never go there because if I go there I want to buy all the mugs. Everything I've ever handled there feels so good you never want to put it down.
posted by rtha at 6:30 PM on October 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

I was given a whale tail mug as a gift. It is really remarkably comfortable to hold.
posted by Runes at 8:34 PM on October 7, 2013

I really enjoy getting unique and cheap stuff at lost pot sales. Places that offer ceramics classes usually have lots of mugs that students never take home. About 10% of the mugs are really cool and recommended. All of them are cheap and unique.

Do you have any colleges (definitely including community colleges) or universities nearby?
posted by pmb at 8:42 PM on October 7, 2013

This design of Waechtersbach mug has been my favorite tea drinking companion for the past few years (although I stumbled upon this design while searching for the above link, and may have to obtain one and designate it for nighttime use).
posted by 1367 at 9:11 PM on October 7, 2013

Art/fine craft gallery/gift shops tend to have nice ceramic mugs. Try your local shops.
posted by yohko at 9:31 PM on October 7, 2013

This is the ultimate tea mug. It has words, probably, but you don't have to read them. You're welcome.
posted by Too-Ticky at 12:34 AM on October 8, 2013

Hello is it tea you are looking for? Holds 16oz plus has Lionel Ritche's face on it.

But yeah, my favorite mug was handmade by a local potter and no you can't have it.
posted by ephemerista at 12:02 PM on October 8, 2013 [1 favorite]

OK, our Villeroy & Boch mugs only hold 10.25 ounces, but they're beautiful.
posted by limeonaire at 10:26 PM on October 8, 2013

Response by poster: I ended up getting the mug from Heath and have just tested it out with a few cups of the vital oolong - it's ideal, exactly what I was looking for. May have to paint a fat pony on it someday though. Thanks all!
posted by villanelles at dawn at 6:29 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]