Tiki Mug

4 Mar, 2009 in art pottery by admin

Tiki Mug

Tiki Drinkware - The Finishing Touch For Your Tiki Bar

Once you've built your tiki bar, it's time to stock it with the perfect accessories. Whether your bar is indoors or out, tiki-themed bar accessories provide the perfect finishing touch. Your beautiful tiki bar shouldn't be stocked with plain glasses; likewise, how can you throw a tiki party without the perfect accessories?

Many proud owners of tiki bars take their cue from tiki restaurants of decades past. At chains like Trader Vic's and Don The Beachcomber's, tropically-themed drinks were famously served in imaginative drinkware, ranging from flaming drinks in "cauldrons" to fruity concoctions in tiki mask-inspired ceramic mugs. Other popular tiki motifs replicated in the form of drinkware include cups molded to look like coconut shells and volcanoes. In popular tiki restaurants, such drinkware was often reserved for customers who ordered a special "secret" concoction or a flaming drink.

The original mugs from these restaurants, as well as styles inspired by them, have long been a favorite among tiki fans. In addition to tiki relics from the craze of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, tiki mugs are still being produced today. In fact, many tiki aficionados collect colorful vintage tiki mugs even if they don't have an appropriately tiki-themed bar in which to display them. These mugs are great to display, but even better to keep at your bar to serve tropical drinks, as they were meant to be used.

In order to serve appropriate drinks from your tiki bar, you'll need the right ingredients. The Mai Tai is a classic tropical drink; it was even invented in a tiki bar during the height of the tiki craze. Although iced drinks are typically associated with tiki bars, there are also plenty of flaming hot drinks that were invented in tiki bars. Tiki drinks typically include fruit juice, pineapple slices, and rum, but there are plenty of other imaginative ways to incorporate tiki inspiration in the drinks you serve. There's even a new "Voodoo Tiki" Tequila inspired by island life. Although this tequila is made in Mexico, not Polynesia, it is purportedly aged in barrels carved from wooden tikis.

No matter what type of drink you like to sip while sitting at a tiki bar, you can find the perfect tiki-inspired barware in which to serve it. In addition to the classic mugs and cauldrons, there are also tiki shot glasses, bottle openers, drink stirrers, and even high ball glasses and decanters. Don't forget to top each tropical drink with a paper umbrela. These fun, novel styles of tiki barware add the perfect ambience to your bar, and are also popular collectibles.

To continue the tiki ambience, play exotic-sounding tiki music from Martin Denny, Les Baxter, or Arthur Lyman, and light a few tiki toches outdoors. Other popular tiki items, such as masks and statues, can help you continue the tiki bar style through the rest of your home. Whether you use them everyday or save them for your summer tiki parties, they are sure to be a hit with any crowd.

About the Author

Royal Tiki's beautiful range of Tiki are hand-carved on the Hawaiian island of O'ahu. Also check for current specials on Tiki bar statues

Anyone collect tiki mugs?

I have 2 really neat looking tiki mugs, they are "Orchids of Hawaii", shaped like pineapples, if anyone is interested. Would be an asset to any tiki collector.

they sound delightful.. but nope I don't want them thanx

TikiLizzy's Tiki Mug Collection