RUSSIAN TEA RITUAL
. In Russia, the centuries old tradition of drinking tea, and national peculiarities of character and a harsh climate fostered entirely original tea etiquette, as distinct from the Eastern ceremonies, so to speak, of ancestors, as well as from Western European countries. Tea in Russia long neglected urban drink, the center of trade and the "trendsetter" in the tea ritual was Moscow.
First, drank tea at home, in families, but to the XIX century there were genuinely Russian institution, not having anything like abroad - tea. Each tea has been on three premises. In one room was a kitchen, the other was a kind of a notary's office, where clerks were various complaints and petitions. And only the third building was designed strictly for tea.
To common tables (as in tea were the only common tables) were fed large samovar with boiling water and brew kettles with. Tea is offered milk, cream, bagels, lump sugar - the custom of drinking tea with sugar, a bit of sugar came from Siberia. Sometimes to entertain visitors and the hosts were billiards gramophone. Under low noise effervescent samovar was unhurried conversation heart.
Moscow described the fine tea in the XIX century, AI Finches: "Tea drinking from Moscow in the morning, noon, and be sure to four hours. At this time in Moscow in each house were boiling samovar, tea and restaurants were full, and life becomes. We drank it in the evening, drank, when vzgrustnetsya, drinking and having nothing better to do, and "just." We drank the milk, with lemon, jam, and most importantly - with pleasure. "
With special scale tea was carried in merchant houses: merchants sat for hours at the tea table and drank twenty cups sometimes. If, after drinking cups of ten, dismiss the cup aside, this does not mean that the tea party is over. But when the cup (or cup) upside down and put it on the remains of sugar, it became clear that the tea is finished.
By the end of the XIX century began drinking tea from a tall glass with silver holders, thus enjoying not only the taste and aroma, and color.
Here's how to describe how to brew tea in one of the old cookbooks: "Tea for four people. 1 teaspoon of tea to put in a teapot, pour boiling water and cover with a towel or placing in a samovar to brew. After 15 minutes, when the tea will insist it is poured into cups, pouring boiling water clean. " Tea was served at a table laden with sweets: crackers, pretzels, bread rings, small cakes, pies, cakes. In addition, the proposed milk, cream, lemon jam.
Tea with a samovar - an amazing and extremely rare event now, as the samovar, as part of everyday life, completely gone from our lives.
But if you want to get amazing and neither the incomparable feeling - get!
Before doing so. Diluted with a small fire to get the coal. Then these coals in a small special metal scoop transferred out of the fire in the samovar. After this samovar torch jammed with chips or bumps to the top.
After plugging the burner to the chimney and Samovar dress began fanning embers. You can blow up your mouth, you can boot, like in the movies. The water is not poured - so very little to nothing melted.
In the melted water poured samovar. Further, as usual. By the way, samovar tea sure to drink from a saucer - a tradition. Variety of tea can be arbitrary, but were used earlier Georgian and Azeri, and Indian.
As previously served tea
The rules are useful and
. In Russia there is a rule: tea should be like a kiss - hot, strong and sweet.
Previously, refreshments at the tea table was modest. In the morning served porridge, sometimes soft-boiled eggs. Children are happy to eat a loaf of bread, soaked in boiling water and sprinkled with sugar. Morning and evening on the table lay a donut. Equally popular were drying. It is hard to imagine then the tea-table without the lush rolls.
Tea is certainly fed milk or cream. We drank it with jam or a bit of sugar with a piece of lump sugar. On Sundays and are called tea merchant houses baked pies, and among the intelligentsia, it was decided to make sandwiches, serve halva, pastries and oriental sweets. All houses liked to drink tea with biscuits.
Now almost forgotten, are popular treats, sweets and toffees as. Tea with them was considered a day, but drank it, usually after dinner, around 5:00 pm (as in England).
The leading role at the tea table were the hostess or eldest daughter. They poured tea, guided conversation. Beside them stood the cup, and as the arrival of the guests, who were allowed to appear at any time, they poured tea - always through a strainer. If someone asked for more tea, cup rinsed and refilled it. To do this on the table stood a slop-basin. The tea-things in the kitchen were not. It was immediately washed, wiped dry and placed in a cupboard.
Special pride in every home had tea towels. Embroidering their hostess's daughter or sister. Patterns were passed down from generation to generation, especially in rural areas.
Afternoon tea in a family usually took quite modest. On the table were served rolls, white bread, jam, cakes and biscuits.
Men tea served in glasses with coasters, and women - in the cups. In very large, poor families, where it was not possible to buy china, used cheap glasses that are placed on the glass plate.
Spoons appeared in Russia long ago. Teaspoons of spread at the end of X - the beginning of XI century. They were made of different metals. In rich families used silver spoons, and sometimes they were decorated with enamel. Poor families were content with pewter, ivory spoons or alloy. Teaspoons had a different shape, often intricate, but the volume of them was, as now, almost the same - 4-5 ml.
Morning Tea
Morning mood largely determines the day. Early recovery - one of the important conditions of psychic self-regulation and a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, morning tea at home for every person fairly significant. Try to make a tea table even on weekends and holidays the whole family sat down.
How to set the table for morning tea? Daily morning tea consumed in modest surroundings with a minimal amount of dishes and cutlery. The table can be covered with beautiful oilcloth tablecloth or washable, and if its surface is polished and not afraid of water, it is better to put towels for each family member and put them on the dishes.
At each table setting put a cup or glass with a cup holder, put a teaspoon, knife and fork. The center of the nipple and put the sugar bowl. Depending on the cooked food can be served a plate of hors d'oeuvres, sandwiches, fruit, jam and dried fruit. On the table are required paper napkins.
tea party
You this phrase seems strange to you? Dinner party does not surprise anyone. But at tea also once called, invited!
To arrange a home and invite guests to tea is not bad. This idea is to approach a serious and meaningful way, consider who and how many people to invite. It depends on the specific circumstances and issues to be discussed, or free time, which meant to have fun. According to classical canons laid hold tea between lunch and dinner. And it has its advantages. The main purpose of the title of tea is a pleasant dialogue, interesting conversation, rest from everyday worries.
At the meeting the guests owners should not forget their responsibilities. Well, if the majority of guests are familiar with each other. Topic of conversation should be relevant, interesting and understandable to all.
At the tea table look best flowers in the lower crystal, porcelain or ceramic vases. If a vase of flowers, put her in the middle of the table, if there are several - is distributed evenly. Flowers usually pick up, given the color of dishes and tablecloths.
Serving tea table - a particular concern of owners. You can put a lot of tasty dishes, but if they are clumsily designed, treats the effect be lost. Items for tea is relatively small, as well as at breakfast. Individual devices are placed behind the plate in a specific order: fork, knife, spoon. All cups must be next to the hostess. When the guests sit at the table, she poured tea, and passes the cup. Next to the samovar, or tea caddy must be a brew, a strainer and slop-basin.
Utensils and articles of general use will require a little: a dish of bread or bread-plate, covered with a napkin, a plate for oiler or oil, sugar bowl, milk jug, limonnitsa or saucer, bowl of fruit, a plate or bowl for cookies, cake, cupcakes. If there is to entertain guests sandwiches, canapés or a snack, put an extra bowl. Candy, dried fruits and raisins is better to submit to the crystal, nickel silver or silver sweets.
Vis a cup of tea
The conversation at the tea table may be business or intimate. Accordingly, various tableware and will. When a business conversation table is covered with strictly using a minimum of decoration. Cups of tea and a modest meal may bring on a tray along with the instruments in common use. Very suitable for such a salty tea biscuits or a small, small sandwiches. The situation should not relax the interviewees, it provides discipline, precise rhythm and tempo.
A completely different situation at a meeting of a personal nature. It can be emotionally intense, not very consistent, last indefinitely, with reflections and questions that are sometimes not so easy to find the answer. Such a conversation may be changing tempo, pause, or stormy explanation. Still, the conversation is always pleasant personal agenda, or even better go for a cup of tea.
This tea requires great attention to the design of the table: good tablecloth, tasteful colors, beautiful dishes.