Crystal glasses will become a decoration of the festive table. Manufacturers surprise with assortment, variety of shapes, colors. Each company tries to stand out with something special: cutting, decoration. Dishes are turned into real masterpieces that delight the eye.
The advantages of
crystal glasses :
Fine tableware never goes out of style.
Crystal differs from glass in transparency, it is never dull.
Glasses are cut by hand, cutting through the pattern with a diamond wheel. Sharp edges refract light well, fill the vessel with bright sparks.
The main distinguishing feature of glass with a high lead content is a characteristic pleasant ringing, due to the high density of the amorphous mass.
What drinks are served in glasses made of crystal
There are no restrictions for crystal, sparkling vessels are filled with juices, fruit drinks, wine, cocktails, tonics, all kinds of alcoholic and carbonated drinks. For each drink, a certain design of dishes has been developed, based on the cultural characteristics of the country - the producer of the drink.
Tea
Cup holders are at their peak again. They are made from silver, copper-containing alloys according to original designs. From an ordinary accessory, they have turned into a luxury item. The dishes must correspond in status.
Many manufacturers are engaged in the production of crystal glasses for glass holders. They fit perfectly with our coasters.
Important! Hot tea is poured into a vessel with thin walls slowly, directing a stream of boiling water over a spoon so that the water gradually warms up the walls. From a sharp temperature contrast, the dishes can burst or crumble into small fragments.
Whiskey
This noble English drink is drunk:
in pure form;
with ice;
mixing with soda water.
For whiskey, several types of crystal glasses are produced from crystal.
Shot glass is available in medium and large sizes. They drink from the container in large sips, in order to immediately appreciate the strength, aging of the favorite drink of Scottish hunters.
Tumbler is a classic-shaped beverage glass. The vessel is distinguished by thick walls and a massive, stable bottom. A rounded (barrel) and faceted shape of the walls is allowed, containers with 6 or 8 sides are produced.
Rocks is a tall vessel with a thickened bottom expanding upward. Designed for whiskey with soda, lots of ice. The thick bottom warms up slowly, the ice melts gradually.
Water
Crystal glasses under water come in thick and thin walls. Pressed drinks stay cool longer.
Collins is a cylindrical medium-height container;
Highball is a wide vessel narrowed at the base;
Old fashion - a small glass designed for cocktails and water, with cylindrical or rounded walls at the bottom.
By the way, underwater dishes are considered universal, other non-alcoholic drinks, cocktails, tonics are poured into it.
Beer
Glasses that help reveal the flavor of the beer, the hop or aroma of the fermented malt. For a foamy drink, dishes are produced according to the canons that have developed over the years.
Conical pint - a vessel with beveled walls, expanding at the top, thin-walled, blown.
The Irish pint or pint tulip is recognized by its flowing, graceful contours, reminiscent of a drop-down flower bud. There are such glasses in the assortment of many branded manufacturers. They are usually offered in sets of 6.
The German pint or willy becher is the most popular form of beer container. The vessel, narrow at the base, expands at the top, then narrows slightly. The glass is comfortable to hold in your hands, the beer remains cool, the bulk of it is on top.
Tumbler - a wide glass with thick walls, made by pressing, heavy.
Shtange is a tall cylindrical vessel with a thickened bottom and thin walls.
What to look for when choosing a cool crystal glass
The clarity of the crystal is determined by the lead oxide content. The Americans call crystal glass with a negligible plumbum content.
Instead of dyes, metal oxides are added during production:
ruby color is obtained by adding gold or copper (copper ruby is lighter);
cobalt gives blue tones;
pink and lilac color - selenium;
purple - nickel;
green, brownish - chromium, it all depends on the concentration of the substance in the charge.
Crystal has low thermal conductivity, the glass will not heat up for a long time in the hand. The walls transmit sound well, even with a slight impact, a "crystal ringing" appears.
The cut should be sharp, it is good to decompose light into spectral shades. Melting occurs when the technology is violated, when the dishes are polished for too long in a mixture of sulfuric and hydrochloric acid.
Important! Before buying, you need to carefully examine the dishes, there should be no small pebbles, distinguishable grains of sand, bubbles in the walls, bottom.
Tips for the care of crystal glasses
Crystal is prized for the play of light on the edges. They accumulate dirt, drops of drink. The dishes fade, lose their former shine. Lemon juice or vinegar will help restore the cut to its former shine.
The crystal is washed with hands in a solution of dry mustard and with an odorless detergent. Better to take a new sponge without traces of grease. Foam rubber is directed to hard-to-reach places with a brush or a spatula. Clean crystal is tipped onto a cloth, then wiped until it squeaks.
By the way, dishes with dried wine stains and traces of sweat are soaked for 4 hours in a warm soapy-soda solution. After that, it is enough to rinse the crystal.
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