Way to Russia Talk Lounge

castilho · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:12 pm Post subject: russian tea

Hi. I love drink tea and somebody told me the russians make tea in a different way. First, they make a 'zavarka', a kind of concentrated tea. And then, add hot water. Could someone explain me how to do it? Another question: what kind of tea is more popular in Russia: assan, ceilon, darjeeling ? I'm looking for a samovar to buy but it' not very easy to find here, in Brazil.
Thanks a lot, folks

uday · WayToRussified Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 323

Yes, great question. I also really liked russian tea and would like to know what kind they use.

UsualSuspect · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 1:47 am Post subject: Chai

Guys,
My fiancee and all the people I've hung out with in Russia generally buy leaf tea to their own taste and then the difference (say from the way Brits make it) comes from the fact that the tea is left in the pot to steep a long time, and left like that for even two or three days. What they then do is pour some of this strong mix into a cup (maybe 1/5th of a cup) and fill with hot water....s limonom mostly as well.

My fiancee buys ceylon and bergamot tea and mixes to her own taste. Everyone else seems to have their own favourite blend.

I noticed that the tea section of shops was almost a mini world in itself compared to here in OZ where you would have to visit a speciality tea shop to get the same variety.

Maybe Alice/Dmitri/???? would care to share their own secret tippling recipes?

Regards
Usualsuspect

Dr Fauste · Site Admin Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 654

You can go to speciality shop and buy Russian tea, buy Russians generally do not this tea in Canada. My ex was fond Lipton Yellow label with some cut up strawberries or lemon in it.
You place the tea with a kettle of extra hot water to dilute it to taste. Tea is for drinikng after dinner which is foreign for me.

AliceFromMoscow · WayToRussified Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 411

From teas i like only karkade(i dont know how its called in english, my translator doesnt know such word), its a tea made of petals of hibiscus...
I dont like any other teas, so im not a specialist in this Smile

As for preparing it.. you take several spoons of tea, put it into ceramic teakettle, then pour hot(boiling) water in it, and let it brew for 5-7 minutes, then you just pour this into cup and add more hot water, thats it. Smile

Although karkade tastes better when cold. This is how most russians make tea. I'm sure tea experts do something much more complicated, but i am not a fan of tea, so i dont know... ))
Any tea that was made long time ago(more than one day) tastes awfully.. imho

castilho · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:13 pm Post subject: teas

I know 'karkade' tea, Alice. It's called also egyptian tea, made as you say with hibiscus flowers. It's an 'after meal' tea. I prefer black tea - camelia sinensis - with milk, like in Britain, or lemon.
I'll try to make tea in a 'russian way', with a concentrated tea (maybe ceilon or assan) e put hot water. Maybe I can try a Lipton Red Label, as Dr. Fauste said. It's easy to find here.
Tks for the informations, folks.

Luba · Frequent Guest Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 14

To drink some tea was always popular in Russia. I've heard from my grand-grandmother(she was over 100 years old) that they used to drink 30 glasses of tea per day in the XIX-th century! Must be a healthy thing to do! I am not that tea-firsty at all. But I have my own secrets. If you want to drink your tea with a slice of lemon, first put a piece of lemon into your cup, add a teaspoon of suger, mix it all up - work hard :lol: ! Then, take a ceramic teapot, rinse it with boiling water and almost immediately put a handful of tea leaves into it and add some hot water to cover the leaves. Wait for two-or three minuts to let it brew in a small amount of water. Then add hot (not boiling!) water and wait for another 3 minutes. Pour it into your cup with lemon and ... feel the difference!

Dr Fauste · Site Admin Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 654

My ex made tea the same way. But she used strawberries also and it is hard to find good loose tea in Canada.

Where I grew up, they boiled the tea bag and tea was as dark as coffee. Russians drink their tea extremely weak in comparison. My ex always complained about the strength of my tea.

castilho · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 6:14 pm Post subject: tea time

Great. Luba. Tonight, I'll try to make my tea like that. It sounds very good.

WayToRussia · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:03 am Post subject:

Yes, and the best tea you can use for the Russian tea is the cheapest Indian tea you can find. Also put at least 2 spoons of sugar in a cup and have some Russian dessert (like baranki or pryaniki or some sweet cakes).

Dr Fauste · Site Admin Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 654

Dmitri, in Canada we make tea from special mushrooms. Have you heard of such tea? Very Happy

WayToRussia · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:06 am Post subject:

Oh yessss