There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Few weeks ago I was spending my weekend with all my relatives in our "dacha" (Russian countryside house). The weather was amazing - sunny, not hot but warm enough, with just few clouds in the blue sky. That's why we decided to spend our evening outside, on our green field between the apple trees. As real Russians we have our own tea drinking ceremony (I even made a big biscuit cake :) ). When we got out m grandfather decided finally to teach me the art of making a tea in Samovar.

So basicly, Samovar (Rus: самовар) is a Russian traditional metal container that is used for boiling water and making tea. The samovar is, in some way, a symbol of Russian traditional life. First historical record about Samovar was in 1778 when Lisitsyn brothers registrated the first Samovar-making factory.

A traditional samovar consists of a large metal container with a faucet near the bottom and a metal pipe running vertically through the middle. 

Now there are new types of samovars like electric or kerosine samovars but we like the traditional ones like the one we have.

So, what new did I learn and what facts did the lesson recall about samovars that day...

1) Always put pipe so the output doesn't face the wind...Pretty logical, huh?

2) First you start the fire by burning old newspapers (Yes! Real Samovars work ONLY with old newspapers :D...Ok, ok, you can use any paper thet burns well). And don't put anything before the fire is steady!

3) After that you throw  lots cones in the pipe and run far away beacuse fast and dense smoke starts running out from the pipe. Or just place a chair behind the pipe, sit there and hope that the wind won't bother you. :) 

4) When the water is boiled, put your favourite tea herbes (mine is jasmine with mint) in the cup, cover them with hot water. 

5) Better to drink the tea from the sauser (Granny's method, as I call it) A) it cools faster B) It's much more delicious! :)

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company. ~Author Unknown