At the start of the 18th century tea was reserved for the wealthy and elite because tea was still rare and china was expensive. Towards the middle of the 18th century all classes indulged in tea. There seemed to always be an excuse for a tea party, whether formal or informal, tea had become a popular way of socializing. The Latimer’s had a large tea set of blue and white china, as well as, silver service suggesting they entertained quite a bit.
Ceramic Flowered Tea Set Pattern, Tea Drinking in the 18th-Century America:
It's Etiquette and Equipage, Smithsonian Institution, 1961