The term "fine china" is generally used to refer to any food serving dish that’s not made of paper, wood or plastic. Fine china is actually a type of dinnerware made of top-quality clay fired at very high temperatures. Fine china is characterized by a hard, thin, non-porous body with a smooth and translucent surface.

When we say fine china, two things come to mind: basic porcelain and bone china. Basic porcelain is made by heating clay in a kiln at temperatures ranging from 1,200°C (2,192°F) to 1,400°C (2,552°F). Glass and mullite are formed during this heating process, giving porcelain its tough edge over stoneware or earthenware.

Bone china is the most expensive type of dinnerware. Animal bone ash is added to the clay and heated twice, giving bone china its light weight and durability. Translucent and almost perfectly white, bone china goes through five meticulous processes: clay making, mold creation, china plate formation, firing, and glazing.