Russian Tea

A brass Russian samovar set

When Russia is mentioned, perhaps the first drink that comes to mind is Vodka. But tea is also widely consumed by the Russians to the extent that, for some people, tea is actually the true "national beverage" of this gigantic country which spreads over 11 time zones across Europe and Asia. There is hardly a Russian home or office today in which a tea samovar is not ready to serve a piping hot cup of black Russian tea to friends, family, or business associates.

Russian tea is basically black tea, both imported and home grown. However, green tea is also making inroads in the tea-fanatic Russian population.

Did you know that 82% of the 140 million Russians drink at least one cup of tea every day? That translates to a minimum of 115 million cups a day, or 42 billion cups a year!

Tea originally arrived in Russia from China. But the transportation of the exotic plant over the difficult terrain and great distances proved to be so problematic that initially it could be afforded and enjoyed only by the aristocracy. With the creation of Tea Road between Russia and China and protection provided by the Czar more Russians began the enjoy the heart-warming wonders of a cup of hot brew. At the end of the 18^th century, Russia was importing 3 million pounds of tea by camel caravans from China, enough to elevate it to the status of a "national beverage."

In the 19^th and 20^th centuries the camel caravans were replaced by trains and ships but the Russian love affair with tea continued unabated. Today tea is grown in native Russian plantations around the great summer resort of Sochi, located on the shores of the Black Sea.