Saucer

A saucer is a small type of dishware specifically for use with a cup - a cylindrical cup intended for coffee or a half-sphere teacup for tea. The saucer has a raised center with a depression sized to fit a mating cup. Its purpose is to catch overflow, splashes, and drips from the cup and so protecting both table linen or a user sitting in a free standing chair, who holds both cup and saucer. The saucer also provides a convenient place to place a damp spoon, as might be used to stir the drink in the cup in order to mix sweeteners or creamers into tea or coffee.

Although often part of a place setting in a dinner set, teacups with unique styling are often sold with matching saucers, sometimes alone, or as part of a tea set, including a teapot and small desert plates. A set of four is typical for a tea set. See also demitasse.

Saucers were used in the past to cool the contents of the cup. The hot liquid was poured into the saucer, the wider surface area cooling the liquid rapidly. This was the original use of the saucer, not to catch drips.

Zarf

A zarf is a kind of saucer that holds a handle-less cup more tightly than a normal saucer. It is particularly useful for holding hot tea or coffee in thin plastic cups, that are otherwise too hot to hold.

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