What is a samovar?
Samovar is a type of tea service that is very popular in Russia, although the design can also be found in Iran and parts of the Middle East. The samovar is basically a large bathtub designed to hold water, which is heated by a pipe that passes through the center of VAT. At the top of the samovar there is space for the placement of a tea pot that holds concentrated tea that can be quickly diluted with water from the samovar for drinking. The samovar can also be used for coffee. Decorative Victorian Russian Samovars can be seen in many museums, which demonstrates a high level of determination of craft and love for the samovar. Samovars can still be found in parts of Russia and Iran, although they are somewhat more rare.
In decorative form, Samovars were used for entertainment of important guests and could be silver with a real porcelain tea pot above. In multiple basic models, a samovar could be made of metal like copper and used to keep hot water and tea preparedin poor houses. Many Russians kept the fire gently smoldering under the samovar to keep the water warm, and would increase the heat to boil water when the guests arrived. In more modern times, electric self -samovars have become much more common. In all cases, the samovar is an indicator of hospitality and society.
Traditionally, tea served from the self -made with a concentrated tea mixture, maintained in Teapot at the top of the samovar. Concentrated tea is produced by cooking a large amount of relaxed tea in a tea pot and its immersion for up to ten minutes. Then the tea leaves are discarded and the concentrate is kept warm by located on the top of the samovar to collect the heat scattered from below. If the tea wants, the tea concentrate is poured into the cup and hot water from the samovar is added: usually the concentrate corresponds to one tenth of the cup volume.
When sitting around a drinking tea tea that can be tasted with honey, sugar, milk or lemon, guests also eat a number of small snacksand tea cakes. In a poor household, these snacks can be simple foods such as rye bread, basic cheeses and cucumbers. In rich homes, refreshments could take over the appearance of a large spread of food, including various pastries, small sandwiches and breads.