Sitting Around the Samovar

In Russian samovar means “self-cooker.” Contrary to popular belief, tea itself is not made in the samovar; the samovar serves only to heat water and keep it hot. Nor is the samovar a strictly Russian discovery. The idea was first introduced by the invading Mongol hordes in the thirteenth century, hence the samovar’s exotic appearance and resemblance to the Mongolian hot pot. But tea-loving Russians found it too efficient to be ignored, and by the late eighteenth century the samovar had been adapted to everyday use and become an essential part of Russian life. It was always kept heated, ready to refresh guests with a cup of hot tea.