There are certain things you probably have in your home right now that you might not know the actual name of, and a tea towel is likely one of them. So what is a tea towel? The short answer is that it's a kind of kitchen towel – but it's not exactly the same as a dish cloth.

Learn more about what a tea towel is, what it can be used for, and the difference between a tea towel vs. dish cloth.

In this guide:
What Is a Tea Towel?
Tea Towel vs. Dish Cloth: What's the Difference?
Incorporating Tea Towels Into Your Home Decor
Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Tea Towel?

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A tea towel is a cloth towel made of either linen or cotton that is about the size of a hand towel. It was originally used as a serving accessory to keep a pot of tea warm when serving (hence the name). Tea towels originated in England in the 18th century and quickly became popular throughout Europe.

Back in the day, tea towels were handmade with beautiful embroidery, and even passed on as family heirlooms or gifts.

Today, while they are still more widely used overseas, tea towels are popular in the United States as well. Because they typically feature pretty designs, many people use tea towels to enhance their presentation when entertaining with food and drink.

Tea towels can be used to line a basket of baked goods, for example. Or, you can lay one atop the buffet server in your dining area or beneath a vase or centerpiece on your tabletop as a complement to your decor.

Of course, there are more practical uses for tea towels, too, including to dry up your dishes or to place items on top of to air dry on your countertop.

Tea Towel vs. Dish Cloth: What's the Difference?

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While tea towels can be used as a dish cloth, there are slight distinctions between them. For starters, not all dish cloths are tea towels. Tea towels tend to be a bit larger than a standard dish towel. And while dish cloths are commonly made of materials like terry cloth or microfiber, to be classified as a true tea towel, it must be made of cotton or linen, or a blend of the two.

Tea towels are usually more ornate than a typical dish cloth, though the latter can come in different patterns as well. You may find hand embroidered tea towels or sets that feature different themes or complementary colors.

Because tea towels and dish cloths are very similar in nature, sometimes the terms are used interchangeably. Kitchen towels is another catch-all term that could refer to either tea towels or dish cloths.

Incorporating Tea Towels Into Your Home Decor

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When selecting a set of tea towels, you should think about how you plan to use them as well as your kitchen and dining area color scheme and style.

If you want to use them primarily for decorative purposes, to give as a gift, or to wrap warm bread or muffins right out of the oven, then you won't have to worry as much about absorption. And you can choose tea towels that have more elaborate patterns or stitching without worrying about ruining them.

Tip!

Tea towels that can be personalized with a monogram make a great housewarming gift.

On the other hand, if you want them to pull double duty to dry your dishes or to wipe down countertops, then you might go for tea towels that are made of linen as they are more absorbent and quick-drying than cotton. They will also stand up well to frequent washing.

Written by Dawn Papandrea

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