The Brown Betty has its origins in the 17th century when English potters copied the spherical shape of Ming Dynasty Chinese porcelain imports. Unfortunately the white clay available at that time would crack with repeated exposure to boiling water, but there was discovered at Bradwell wood, near Stoke-on-Trent, a red clay that would happily withstand such use. So the Brown Betty was born, at first unglazed, but later as today made with the addition of a Rockingham brown glaze. They are reputed to make the finest cup of English style tea, and are known throughout the world as the embodiment of homely Englishness.