New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-07-26
TEA-DPINkING IN RUSSIA.
C..respondence y. Tao Boston Transcript.

g.. s . y. 10
ST PETERSBURG, June :, 1859.
The visitor 10 -. Petersburg viii notice among the
pictorial Embellishments of the chop fronts, which
so singular IN their appearance, great many signs
wh.reupoD represented the Russian Samavor, or
tea urr, sBd get o. cups aud saucers or glasses.
These signify that the establishment is a tea-hOuse
place largely pa,ronzed by Russians of all classes.
II DR.. johnson could visit Russia, he would find
millions Of persons clad, in sheepskln, and some
In brosdcioth, who would sympathlZe with him in his
fondness for the delicious beverage whose merits he
so Justify defended and perhaps surpass him IN the
quantity swallowed at a si,tDg.
The tea OF which the Russians so fond il brought
overland from China: thus preserving, they claim,
the peculiarly delicate flavor which seayoyage is sure
20 Destroy. IL IS very dear the finer kinds costing
from - to slj pound As general rule, the black
teas preferred although delicate green is in high
favor with many, al sixteen silver rOubles, about
$l2 pound There is yellow tea at about the "a ne
price which has ghtfu effec. upon ones nerves
green tes Is sedatlye compared with 1t. The bev.
erage, black green Oryel0w is drunk with sugar, but
without cream sce Of lemon being substituted, and
the tea tipped by spOonfu,s
My hrst Trial Of tits Singular mixture on board
Of Russian steamer, where an enormous quantity
was .uned at the morning and evening meals. II
then seemed Ike spelling lemonade and tee by mixing
them; but have since learned To Ike it very much
especially of a hot day, when the mercury stands,
it often GOES in 81. Petersburg, at 100 degrees in the
shade. The prOfuse perspraOn into which three four
glasses OF tea put One Is followed by ate OF
soda-waier IN Boston would not produce.
The tes-houses here, Ike the bar rooms in America,
are Of high and low degree. If you enter Of the
better class, on the Nevskoi Prospect, you viii find
large roOm series OF rOoms with little tables, and
invariably picture of the Virgin an Child saint
covered with plate IT gold, or silver glt to
leave only the face. hands and feet Visible. II your
companion be q Russian lac Will bow low a. he IN
covers his head before it, and cross himself many
times. Then you take your seat at Of the Windows
which look upon the street, and orderGour " chi"
The waiter brings portion Of tea in small teapot
plentiful supply of hot water In another vessel glasses
instead Of cups, zone slices OF lemon and Jumps Of
sugar and then plate OF rolls of paper and tobacco
for cigarettes. There is an organ which goes by
cjockwOrk IN the corner SIX feet broad and high
the room. The waiter winds il up, and tie Russian
airs come rolling forth Is sou s and sip your tea and
smoke your cigarette Of yOu chOosel and look out
upon the strange gbs 10 the great street before you
see the mo4J,ks wearing their sheep-kins, and the
officers and private gentlemen their overcosts with
the sun blazing down upon them so that you almost
expect 10 have them melt away before your eyes [:
watch the queer. looking equpsges which come dash.
ing by; the htie boys IN the carriages with loose robe
and girdle and hgh-top boots, aud the in the
snowy national costume which once year the En-
press puts 3D. that her ects may see the highest
lady IL the land dressed ike Russian and the officers
II tEer btlUiant uLiiCrns, each sitting In his neat
droshky, with 81 extra horse csntering along by the
sice oi the Totter Ia harness. Every minute there Is
Tres novelty, ana so the tine passes quickly away.
IDS the dDlce far reAte Of the Russian aud thus
lie takes his ease in his temporary inn, Just the
trenchman while half. hour away ice the
boulevard Italian, the Eugllshman sips his PIT Of
sherry as he talks Politics the Derby at his Leisure
or the representatives of the different free AID engnt
ened states OF North America, who congregsle az the
New York hotels st at the windows thereof with Their
eet cooked up on the iron rad provided tOr them aud
smoke and spit, and stare at the passersby. AGd tue
DONG nothing Is by no Teans al lnyarisbie accOmpa-
nirnest OF the tea-drDking. Many bargain Is made
over quiet glass Of tea with ce Of lemon n it. AID
which locks mAryeously Ike certain descriptions Of
punch. The merchants and the shopkeepers, and
the very pedders in the booths at the rag market ell
have their somavar wherewith 10 refresh themselves
al intervals during the day Ii you have business 70
transact with Russian, he orders tes a. the Turk or
der e9Ese. I've tIields meet by chance, and forth.