At work, at home or at a coffee shop, mugs are one of those things we take for granted in our everyday lives. But have you ever wondered where they came from?
The most ancient mugs ever found were in China and Japan, and date back to around 10,000 BC, They were made of bone. It’s thought that early wooden mugs were also a thing, although little actual evidence of those remains. In Greece 5000 years later, chunky clay mugs make an appearance, this time with decorative handles. The first pottery mugs, also from China, are more recent at 2500 to 2000 BC. Also around this time, metal mugs put in an appearance, produced from bronze, silver and gold, although it’s hard to see how these were suitable for hot drinks. Around 600 BC, porcelain was invented, and the mug was on the front page. Porcelain is the material that is still widely used in all kinds of mugs today.
Why is a mug called a mug?
The word ‘mug’ is thought to be of Scandinavian origin — the Norwegian mugge is a drinking vessel, and the Swedish mugg means a pitcher with a handle. Perhaps more interesting is the correlation between mug as in the slang for face, and mug as in coffee mug — reportedly an allusion to the drinking mugs of 18th century Europe, commonly used as beer mugs, that we made in the shape of a somewhat grotesque human face. Incidentally, to ‘mug’ someone started off as an act of hitting someone in the face (mug). Although probably not with a mug. Confused? So are we.
Personalised mugs
Personalised mugs make great gifts for friends, family and significant others. It’s a lovely way to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday, new job or housewarming, or it could be a quirky ‘just-because’ gift to raise a smile. Choose from selection of personalised mugs with names or messages. Looking for inspiration? At Hardtofind you’ll find a huge selection of personalised mug ideas, or you can start from scratch and design your own. (When searching for your personalised mugs at Hardtofind, be sure to check the ‘Can be personalised’ box in Special features.)
How to choose a mug
The great thing about giving the gift of a custom mug — to someone dear or just as a treat for yourself — is the huge variety of styles and designs to choose from. With a personalised mug the options are endless and can be tailored to any situation or personality. Is it for use at home, or the office? Or is it a travel coffee mug that you can use while on the run? Perhaps it’s for a special occasion — a birthday mug or a Christmas mug — or maybe it’s a hug mug, one that imparts warmth with a little side serving of affection. Once you home in on the purpose, you can start to tailor the design to fit.
Another thing to think about pre-purchase is the fabrication. Ceramic coffee mugs (we’re including earthenware and porcelain in that) are popular because they’re well priced and there are lots of different shapes and sizes to choose from. Best of all, they don’t hang on to flavours from other drinks that have been in the mug, so you don’t have to worry about a whiff of that onion soup pervading your morning coffee fix. Stoneware also scores points here, and is heavier and more chip resistant. Glass is lightweight and looks awesome. Stainless steel retains heat for the longest time. So if you’re prone to making coffee or tea then putting it down and forgetting about it for a while, you should still be able to come back to a hot drink. It’s also unbreakable, so great in a travel mug.
Lastly, look at the features that make your personalised mug stand out from the crowd. Consider the capacity and the handle size. Perhaps you might want one with a lid as a travel mug option. Also, check the washing and heating instructions. Some mugs need more looking after than others, for example a mug with a metallic design won’t be able to go in the microwave. And some patterns may fade in the dishwasher.
Anyone for chocolate mug cake?
Mug cakes are single-serve cakes made in a mug. If you want a quick sweet fix without having to bake an entire cake, then mug cakes are the cake for you. They’re cooked in the microwave so check your mug is microwave safe before you start. Now follow these easy steps:
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Mix together ¼ cup self-raising flour, ¼ cup white sugar, 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder and a pinch of salt in a large mug.
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Stir in 3 tbsp milk, 2 tbsp canola oil, 1 tbsp water and 3 drops vanilla extract.
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Cook in microwave for about 1 minute 45 seconds, until cake is cooked in the middle.
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Eat it all by yourself!
TIP: If this all sounds like a lot of work, you can buy pre-made mug cake mixes at the supermarket.
So now you’re sold on the virtues of personalised coffee mugs! In these pages, you’ll find a selection of the best personalised mugs Australia-wide. As well as funny mugs, you’ll also discover a wide range of other gifts for your loved ones under gifts for husband, gifts for mum, friendship gifts and gifts for pets.
