The Basement of the Bargains

There’s nothing like a relaxing cuppa and a little something either sweet or savory in the middle of the afternoon. Of course it’s more than possible to simply dunk a Lipton’s tea bag into any random mug and snag a Krispy Kreme…but then the ritual and the sense of self-nurture is lost.

To have a good, soul-sustaining afternoon tea (high tea is, ironically enough, not the fancy one but a working class version of dinner) there needs to be a bit more. A pretty tea pot, some good quality tea, and hopefully cucumber or watercress sandwiches can really make the experience something more than a simple snack.

Ralph Lauren clearly understood the concept when he designed this charmingly festive tea set.

There’s a nod to the East in the bamboo handle on the pot and the four Asian style tea cups with no handles or saucers. Add some simple dessert plates, and you’ve got the perfect look to delight the eyes along with your taste buds. And since the set has been marked down from $135.50 to a mere $99.99, you’ll have enough left over for some good tea and a couple small treats, besides.

Make mine Darjeeling, please.