Modern Uses for the Historic Tea Towel
More than just “merch” — our tea towels at StarHill Farms are made of soft cotton adorned with a hand-illustrated, decorative imprint of the entire property. This souvenir item has an obvious functionality, but did you know about the history and evolution of uses for a tea towel?
The History of the Tea Towel:
Originally Tea towels were used merely as a functional item to dry the dishes. With availability of textiles and sewing material in 18th century Britain, a more creative history developed as different uses came to be more common. For example, they graced the finest tables and were made of linen ideal for drying the expensive bone china preferred by the English upper classes. During the Industrial Revolution and the 19th century, the tea towel became a more widely available consumer item, and manufacturers turned to durable fibers such as cotton.
In the 20th and 21st century, American housewives would often reuse rough cotton animal feed sacks by cutting them up into dish towels (often referred to as flour sack towels). They decided the sack needed decorating and hence the tradition of decorating tea towels and using them for creative expression!
Offering a range of uses both in and outside of the kitchen, below are a few of our favorite modern-day uses for the StarHill Farms Tea Towel:
Wonderful uses for your Tea Towel:
1. Give or Keep as a Memento
Since the 18th century, tea towels have been passed down to generations as heirlooms. Great as a souvenir from your stay at the farm or ideal for a bridal, wedding or a housewarming gift, carries both a meaningful and practical sentiment.
2. Wrap your Baked Goods
Keep your cinnamon rolls, muffins and bread warm by wrapping them in a tea towel. If you’re giving away your baked goods as a gift, tea towels make for personal and eco-friendly wrapping.
3. Decorate your Kitchen or Guest Bathroom
Hang tea towels in place of traditional hand towels to add a splash of decor to your kitchen or guest bathroom.
4. Use as a Hot Pad or Trivet
A tea towel, especially when folded, acts as an effective hot pad. Place your warm dishes or baked goods on the tea towel to let it cool down and protect the surfaces below from extreme heat.
5. Line your Serving Tray
After all, this was one of the original purposes for this delightful little towel. Enjoy with any meal - whether it’s a bowl of oatmeal or a warm cup of coffee, or your dinner, the tea towel helps keep bowls/plates/mugs in place, and also catch any drips or spills.
6. Keep Your Greens Crisp
When you rinse leafy greens, they need a clean place to dry. Tuck them in a tea towel and carefully pat them dry. They’ll stay crispy and extra fresh.
7. Decorate the Table
A tea towel can add some festivity to your table by using it as a placemat or cloth napkin. Giving a new meaning to “farm-to-table”!
8. Line your Shelves
To store dry and clean dishes, take clean tea towels and place them flat inside your kitchen cabinets. They’ll absorb excess water from dishware and glasses—plus add a decorative look. (You’ll want to periodically wash your tea towels so your cupboards stay fresh!)
9. Wrap a Bottle of Wine
Use to pour at your table or to accompany a bottle of your favorite wine as a hostess gift.
10. Soaking up Liquids
Whether it is to dry dishes or your hands, this eco-friendly, cost-efficient use eliminates the need for too many paper towels.