Russian Tea: The History and Ceremony

Russian tea history

The history of tea in Russia began in mid-1600, when a Chinese ambassador in Moscow gave several chests of tea to Tsar Aleksey Mikhaylovich. During this period, Russia sought to establish trade with China, and tea quickly became a desired commodity.

Through the Treaty of Nerchinsk in 1689, so he starts a series of conflicts between the two peoples (at least for some time) and were defined officially the border between China and Russia, enabling the peaceful passage of caravans to trade between the two empires. The trade route to Moscow offered terribly adverse climatic and geographical conditions, and who started it took 16 months to reach its destination across 17,000 kilometers.

These factors initially influenced the cost of tea, and became a luxury available only to royalty and the Russian elite. But at the end of 1700 the prices were fall, and broke society. So it became a favorite beverage of Russia, along with the vodka.

Traditionally the Russian drink tea after having their meals or in the afternoon; and it is usually accompanied with homemade cookies, cakes, pastries and sandwiches. A typical Russian tea consists of two or three flavors that are mixed in the cup and hot water to dilute.

In some regions, the tea is prepared in kettles which are designed to be placed one above the other. The bottom contains hot water; the middle a black tea concentrates intense taste, while the top contains herbal or mint tea. Stacking teapots not only saves space, but also helps maintain the temperature longer.

 

Russian Samovar

Most of Russians use the samovar, an adaptation of Tibetan tea that is used to heat and maintain the water temperature at which the tea is prepared. Samovars can be made of copper, bronze, iron and silver; the latter being the most common. 

Formerly they represented a symbol of affluence and wealth for those who had them, since they are not only functional but also an expression of art for its delicate ornamentation alluding to Russian folk stories.

In the samovar water is heated by charcoal or wood smoldering in a tube in the center. At the top of the samovar it rests a small kettle containing a strong infusion and concentrated called zavarka, which is served in cups and diluted with hot water. To prepare zavarka usually strands of black tea from India or China, as Keemun, with herbs or fruit are used. Another alternative is favorite Russian Caravan, a blend of black threads and Lapsang Souchong.

The cups where tea is served called podstakanniki. They are made of glass and supported by a base of silver, nickel or gold carved handle. Similar to Turkish coffee cups, they have to preserve the uniqueness of tempered glass maintaining the temperature of tea.

Russian Tea Ceremony

Tea Ceremony in Russia does not maintain a formal rigor, and has a structure as the Japanese tea Ceremony. Yet it is undisputed star of talks, parties, meetings, sorrows and joys; and sitting around the Samovar to share distinctive tea symbolizes hospitality to the guest, stories and traditions to children, and conversation with the affections.