A Samovar as a Popular Russian Kettle - Essay Example

Samovar The passing dealer in How Much Land Does a Man Need; the passing dealer had stopped to feed his horse and “they had tea together” (Tolstoy 47). Similarly, in God Sees the Truth, but Waits, Aksionov stopped to rest and feed his horse in an inn and met a fellow merchant. “They had some tea together” (Tolstoy 2). In both readings, tea is prepared with water from a samovar. A samovar is a popular Russian kettle that is used to heat and keep the tea hot. Currently, the samovar remains a ubiquitous symbol of Russian identity, and its image signifies a distinctively Russian type of community. Russians are hospitable people, and they are always willing to welcome their guests. It is considered un-Russian to welcome a guest and not offer him/her tea. Therefore, the importance of samovar is emphasized because it is the one that keeps the tea warm all the day long. A samovar was introduced in Russia in the 19th century. It was a centerpiece of any Russian household, rich or poor. Samovar is so popular in Russia such that it is mentioned in almost every Russian literature material. In The Seven Samovars, a guest is surprised by the sight of seven samovars. David, the guest, says that two years have passed since he was served with a “full cup” of tea (Sursi 1). But the service lady explains, “that is the Russian way to take tea” (1). Russians love tea and instead of sugar, they sometimes add a spoonful of jam. The author is surprised by the seven eponymous samovars sitting on the long counter. He admits that the last time he saw such antique boilers was in a museum (Sursi 1). In the first instance, the author thought that they were placed on the counter for decoration. The author appears to demonstrate that a non-Russian would not understand the use of the samovar at first sight. The author was surprised that though the samovars do not look electric, they were still in use. In the closing line of his story, the author has already understood the use of a samovar. “My samovars are full, and the water is boiling” (Sursi 1). Russians consider a samovar to be a symbol of their hospitality. In Russia, ‘samovar’ means a self-cooker. Goldstein observes that the samovar is not “a strictly Russian discovery” (Goldstein 195). Samovar was created from the idea of Mongol hordes who were invading Russia in the thirteenth century. The samovar is said to resemble the appearance of the Mongolian hot pot (195). Russians are referred to Goldstein as “tea-loving Russians” and the found the samovar “too efficient to be ignored” (195). They fell in love with the “pot”, adapted it and integrated it within their culture such that it became something that no household could afford to live without. Contrary to the popular belief, a samovar is not used to cooks tea. The samovar boils water and the tea is brewed separately into a strong concentration popularly know as ‘zavarka’ (Goldstein 195). Tiny pots are used to hold the savarka. These pots are always placed on top of a samovar which keeps the tea warm all day long. Goldstein discusses how the samovar works (195). It contains a wide tube in the central part of its body which is usually filled with hot coals of charcoal. The hot coals are used to the body of the urn surrounding it. However, the coals produce a lot of smoke such that, in summer, it was heated outdoors to avoid burning the house. Historically, before the samovar was more developed, a pipe extension was attached to it so that it could carry the fumes and soot out (Goldstein 195). Its importance in Russia was great such that even the peasants adopted it to be used in their cottages. Russians had a distinct tea-culture that was not found in any other part of the world. Tea is used to symbolize the fluidness of Russian group interactions. Tea may have been non-affordable, but even the peasants could not live without their cup of tea. Russian tea-culture has made the samovar a unique utensil in Russia. A samovar is a brass urn with wooden handles used in Russia to heat and boil tea. Samovar is the symbol of Russian hospitality at its best. A samovar is not used to cook tea. A samovar is only used to heat water and tea and keep it hot. It is 13th-century invention by the invading Mongol hordes, hence its exotic appearance that resembles the Tibetan teakettle (Rorem 41). Russians are tea loving people, and they found the invention too efficient and adapted it and made it a part of their life. It was keeps burning; ready to refresh guests with a cup of hot tea. The above statement reveals the love of tea among the Russians. Russians drink tea after every meal or between meals, and a samovar keep it ready all day long. Rorem observes that a samovar can hold up to forty cups of tea at a time (42). Russians are very passionate about their tea with preference for strong, dark tea sweetened with jam, sugar or honey. Hot water is stored at the bottom of the samovar in an urn. In Russian literature, the samovar and the drinking of tea takes a prominent place. A samovar is so popular that the scenes it creates as people sit around it “indicate hospitality and a friendly atmosphere shared with family and friends” (Rorem 42). Historically, the Tea Road that was more than 6,000 miles long was used to transport tea from China to Russia for more than 200 years until Trans-Siberian Railway was constructed in the early 20th century (42). When tea was first introduced to Russia, it was through “a gift chest of tea sent…to Czar Alexis” (42). The importance attached to tea makes it desirable to have samovars. Tula town in Russia was the most famous in manufacture of samovars. Rorem observes that, Tula had thirty-eight factories in the 20th century that were producing approximately 500,000 samovars per year (42). Conclusion Tea and samovar represent a Russian culture which is an interesting mixture of Eastern influences (the tea that originated from China) and Western paraphernalia (samovar). A samovar was introduced in Russia in the 19th century. It was a centerpiece of any Russian household, rich or poor. To lack tea, especially when an unexpected guest arrives is to lack one of the most fundamental lubricants of social interaction. The samovar has been transformed from an item of conspicuous consumption in the household of Russian ruling elites to an everyday household utensil. Samovar has been used by Tolstoy as a symbol of unity and social integration. Russians attach great significance to tea drinking and epitomize it by the samovar. Tolstoy establishes the samovar as a site of memory. The term ‘tea’ is mentioned in both Leo Tolstoy readings, and in Russia, tea is heated and kept by a samovar. Currently, the samovar remains a ubiquitous symbol of Russian identity, and its image signifies a distinctively Russian type of community. The passing dealer in How Much Land Does a Man Need; the passing dealer had stopped to feed his horse and “they had tea together” (Tolstoy 47). Similarly, in God Sees the Truth, but Waits, Aksionov stopped to rest and feed his horse in an inn and met a fellow merchant. “They had some tea together” (Tolstoy 2). In both readings, tea is prepared with water from a samovar. Works Cited Goldstein, Darra. A Taste of Russia: A Cookbook of Russian Hospitality. Montpelier: Russian Information Service, 1999. Print. Rorem, Beverly. Passion for Tea: Its History, Its Future, Its Health Benefits. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2008. Print. Sursi, Peter. The Seven Samovars. Light Speed Magazine, Issue 58. (September 2012). Accessed [March 6, 2015] http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-seven-samovars/ Tolstoy, Leo. God Sees the Truth, but Waits. Singapore: Otbebookpublishing.com, 2014. Print. Tolstoy, Leo. How Much Land Does a Man Need? and Other Stories. Massachusetts: Digireads.com Publishing, 2012. Print. Read More