Tealight

A tealight (also tea-light, tea light, tea candle, or informally tea lite, t-lite or t-candle) is a candle in a thin metal or plastic cup so that the candle can liquefy completely while lit. They are typically small, circular, usually wider than their height,[1] and inexpensive. Tealights derive their name from their use in teapot warmers, but are also used as food warmers in general, e.g. fondue.

A tealight which has just been lit, with the wax beginning to liquify
A tealight warming a teapot

One benefit they have is that, unlike taper candles, they don't drip. [2]

Tealights are a popular choice for accent lighting and for heating scented oil. Tealights may be set afloat on water for decorative effect. Because of their small size and low level of light, multiple tealights are often burned simultaneously. Longer-burning tealights may be called nightlights. They also lit for religious purposes.

Varieties
Cretan style Advent labyrinth made with 2500 burning tealights in the Centre for Christian Meditation and Spirituality of the Diocese of Limburg at the Holy Cross Church in Frankfurt am Main-Bornheim

Tealights can come in many different shapes and sizes, small and large, as well as burn times and scents. However, tealights are commonly short and cylindrical, approximately 38 mm (1.5 in) in diameter by 16 mm (0.63 in) high, with white unscented wax.

A standard tealight has a power output of around 32 watts, depending on the wax used.[3]

When used in batches of fifty or more, such as at a party, the two criteria most desired are "least amount of smoke" and being long-lasting. [4]

Cup design

The wick is tethered to a piece of metal to stop it from floating to the top of the molten wax and burning out before the wax does.

Tealights have been protected under several patented designs. In some cases, the standard tea light metal cup has been replaced with a clear plastic cup, sometimes made out of polycarbonate plastic. The clear cup allows more light to escape the holder. However, the metal cups are much more common.

Holders
Heart-shaped tealight candle holder from Himalayan salt

When not placed on a tray, tealights are placed in a special holder, which may be pierced[5] or have partly clear walls "so light can shine through."

From small pockets of glass, metal, ceramic, and other materials to larger, more elaborate tea light lamps, holders come in a wide range of styles, colours, and shapes. They have an appropriately sized cup to use a tealight candle, either scented or unscented. Discount stores, gift stores, and home decor stores often carry an array of holders for these small candles.

Electrical

Electric tealights have become increasingly popular as newer technology becomes available. They can feature incandescent or LED bulbs, the latter becoming the preferred format as LEDs become more-efficient and brighter. They can come in many different colours to set a mood, match a decor or augment the container's design. Some can also simulate a moving flame with various mechanical or electronic animations.

Safety

Their use may be mandated by safety regulations, such as in hospitals.[6]

Electric tealights are much safer than a flame-based tealight, and can be left unattended as there is no open flame or heat to worry about. This allows them to be placed inside freestanding lace structures, or in candle holders made from paper, wood or other flammable materials. They can also be made much smaller to fit where a large flamed-based tealight cannot.

Electric tealights are not useful as a source of heat, so they are not suitable for chafing dishes or other food warmers.

Jewish

Tea lights (the minimum to light is two) are used by Jewish travelers and by those who host them for Friday nights and Jewish Holidays.[7][8]

gollark: Syl GPT-2 WHEN?!
gollark: You may have all my messages except those where the sum of all codepoints within them modulo 1914 is equal to 6.
gollark: Who says I didn't?
gollark: I think if I do it with better-quality data and with maybe a few tens of thousands of rounds it should be possible to emulate me better.
gollark: We can test this once I get a more highly trained version up.

See also

References
  1. under an inch to two inches tall, often 1.5" wide
  2. Tim McKeough (December 17, 2018). "Shopping for Votive Holders". The New York Times.
  3. Andy Lillington (September 2014). "The ooLiTE: Thermoelectric Lighting for Cavers?".
  4. "Great Gear for Parties". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  5. Elaine Louie (August 25, 2010). "Candle Holders, Pricked With Light". The New York Times.
  6. Sari Bloom. "Spending Shabbat in the ER". It was the first time in my married life that I was unable to light Shabbat candles on Friday afternoon (due to hospital regulations).
  7. Michele Marr (August 17, 2006). "Soul Food". The Los Angeles Times. "Jewish women .. unite in this way" .. by lighting Shabbos candles on Friday night
  8. Sandy Eller (March 4, 2019). "For The Hostess With The Mostess". The Jewish Press. if your hosts often put up guests .. consider pretty tea light holders for those extra candle-lighters
  • Media related to Tealights at Wikimedia Commons
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