samovar question

[Clemence]

having no idea what a samovar really looks like I'd like to know if it's still used today, if it's easy to buy one and if tea made that way is better than the one we make in a simple teapot.

[Alixz]

I am sending this to "Their World and Culture"  it is a better place to get a good answer and perhaps some pictures if anyone has a few to post.


Alixz

[Forum Admin]

A typical samovar:



here is a brief explanation of using a samovar:

http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/beverages/teas/how-to-brew-tea3.asp

The major difference is that you can control how strong or weak your tea is yourself by pouring the hot very strong tea and diluting it with hot water yourself.  They are very easy to find for sale, but be careful not to use antique ones which may contain lead.

[Antonina]

I'd like to know if it's still used today

I live in Novosibirsk, Russia, and our friends have got an antique samovar which is usually used by our big company when we have an outdoor party or wedding.. Thay also often bring it to summer children camp, especially when it is visited by foreing guests.
Using of the samovar isn't a norm now, of course, but an element of national exotic, tradition. We like it. It's tasty))

[Clemence]

well, just a question or two ... is it the same tea we use to put in the tea pot that you make that concentrate tea and in the end, does tea taste different?

thanx for all the answers)

[Justine]

from what I remember(my grandparents used to have samovar) regular tea was used(the leaves, not the bags). also my parents kept the little pot from the samovar(when it stopped working properly) & we still drink tea from it-and the taste of tea is different, richer, slightly stronger-I can hardly describe the difference, but the tea is much better imho.

[Alixz]

When I was growing up, my mom never used tea bags.  We always had "loose tea" and we brewed it "steeped it" right in the pot without even a tea ball.

I always liked the taste so much better than a cup of tea bag tea.

It is quite hard to find loose tea in the market now.  My Mom is thoroughly British (born in Canada) not Russian, but the Brits can make a great cuppa.

[Antonina]

 Yes, traditional black tea in leaves, sometimes with  raspberrycane and currant leaves, a bit with a smell of smoke.

[Forum Admin]

One of the best tea companies of Imperial Russia is still in business, now in Paris, and makes wonderful loose tea which we always keep in our cupboard. Kuzmichov "Kuzmi-Tea". They make a selection of flavors, my favorite is the Prince Vladimir blend. You can find them online.

[GrandDuchessAndrea]

I saw a samovar at a bakery shop when I was visiting San Fransisco a couple days ago. I got really excited, and I wished I could have taken a picture of it! It was really big, too, with a lovely little tea pot on top. 

[scythian]

I reply a bit late, but I've just found this part of the forum and I really adore vintage things.
However...I think samovar is not so unknown, well maybe in the United States.
Also, It was a custom at many Russian household to drink tea mixed with marmalade! I like this habit too, though it's a bit unhealthy but veeery tasty!!