Most homeowners have a drawer in their kitchen stuffed to the brim with tea towels of different shapes, sizes, and patterns. There's a good reason why: When your kid leaves a few (too many) stray crumbs on the counter or you're in search for last-minute dining room décor, these do-it-all kitchen cloths come in handy to wipe up any spills, dry dishes, and add a touch of elegance to your dining room table.
Okay, but exactly is a tea towel?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a tea towel as "a cloth for drying dishes." Often made of linen, cloth, or a combination of the two, tea towels date back to England in the 18th century, when they were used to insulate tea pots at tea ceremonies (hence the name), dry fine china, and cover baked goods. During this time, people also used tea towels to practice embroidery, often gifting friends and family tea towels stitched with flowers, initials, or other designs. As the times changed, so have tea towels: By the 19th and 20th centuries, most tea towels were reportedly made with striped or checked cloth for a more decorative touch.
What's the difference between a tea towel and a dish towel?
Call 'em tea towels, call 'em dish towels: The only time that you shouldn't use the names interchangeably is when you're using a towel made of terry cloth. By definition, tea towels are only made of linen or cotton, whereas dish towels can also be made of terry cloth. Both types of towels, however, are roughly the size of a hand towel, ranging from 16″ x 28″ to 18″ x 30″.
