There's a tea renaissance happening that UK's The Future Laboratory is calling "Tea Chic", where a new generation of elegant tea salons and fashionable tea drinkers are cropping up -giving some coffee houses a run for their money. But why the sudden interest in tea? It's becoming a new ritual - "tying into the current trends of tradition, personalization and most importantly, health and well being." There's a dizzying array of flavored, black, herbal, and organic to choose from. Not to mention the positive press about the effects of tea on waistlines, etc.

Forget your grandmother's tea cosy - tea drinkers can sex up teatime with some cutting-edge accoutrements, namely the elegant Eva Solo pot. It's curvy, decanter-like glass vase with filter to stop the leaves falling into your cup. The chicest part is its zip-up neoprene suit, to keep tea warm and hands safe. Tres a la mode.