Russian tea culture Petrova Rita M-111

of Russians consume tea daily.
Russians took up tea drinking long before the Dutch began trading with China for it. No surprise. Russia spans two continents — Europe and Asia — and borders China, the source of the tea. Caravans reached them easily on the “Great Tea Road” (part of the famous “Silk Road”), carrying that special cargo.

the wealthy. As the price became more affordable around the time of Peter the Great , this hearty and warming beverage became a staple of Russian life.

the standard. It’s served hot in winter and even in the record-breaking temperatures they experienced this past summer.
A cup of tea usually has about 1-3 teaspoons of sugar or other sweetener per cup and lemon (but not milk), and a selection of pastries (pies, crêpes, or pancakes), sweets, etc.
While black tea is the most common, green tea is becoming more popular due to the impression that it is a more healthy and “Oriental” style.

mid-afternoon to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner. The affair is centered around the samovar. The family and any guests gather around it, pour tea from the teapot into their glasses set in holders, add hot water from the bottom portion of the samovar, and then sweeten it. The stronger the tea in the teapot is, the more hospitable the host is perceived to be.

podstakanniks (“thing under the glass”). The high-end ones are made of silver. Others are nickel silver, cupronickel, other nickel alloys, or plated with silver or gold.

samovar, an item developed in the 17th century. Its design is based on kettles used by the Mongols  from as early as the 13th century. Samovars are all-in-one tea steeping centers, with a container for heating the water and a teapot for steeping. Modern ones have electric water heating compartments.