Samovar: Traditional Russian Water Boiler for Preparing Tea

How the Samovar Works

Originally, samovars were heated with charcoal or kerosene, but today there are also electric models. The samovar consists of a large metal boiler, usually made of copper, with a vertical tube inside. Combustion takes place in this tube, heating the surrounding water in the boiler. At the bottom edge of the boiler, there is a tap for dispensing the hot water.

History and Distribution

The first written mentions of the samovar date back to the 1730s. It is widely used, especially in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, Turkey, and Central Asia. The city of Tula is a center of samovar production in Russia.

Preparing Tea

To prepare tea, a small separate teapot is placed on the lid of the samovar, in which a highly concentrated tea (zavarka) is made from a large amount of tea leaves and a small amount of water. This tea concentrate is then diluted with hot water from the samovar to the desired drinking strength. This way, everyone can determine the tea concentration themselves. In Russia, tea is drunk from both cups and glasses, known as podstakannik.

Current Usage

Although the samovar is a rather elaborate method of preparing tea, it is still very popular in Russia and neighboring countries. It is an integral part of Russian tea culture and is also highly valued as a decorative art object. Many families own a samovar and use it regularly.