The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-04-07
TEA-DRINKINC IN RUSSIA.

! The Poor Use Bricks; the Rich
a Leaf Sometimes Costing About $l2
! a Pound.
! Among the few things for which Rus
STA deservedly enjoys a creditable and
universal reputation, Russian tea
doubtless occupies prominent place,
both on account of its quality and mode
of preparation and consumption. In
the first place there is no such thing as
Russian tea in the literal sense of the
word. 1t is entirely an article import
ed from China, which country Will
probably continue for a long time to be
the chief source of tea supply for the
Russian markets Tea in Russia is
very dear, but this is due to the heavy
expenses of transport and custom du-
ties. The Russians drink enormous
quantities of tea, sufficient to brighten
any Englishman.
The poor people-and, alas! the Rus
sian people are the poorest in existence
use the so-called "brick" tea. This Is
the cheapest sort, being mixed with the
stems, and compressed by some adj
hesive gum into dry cakes of various
sizes, resembling in its appearance
plug" tobacco. This tea, which would
probably prove poisonous to any one
else is consumed by the Russian work
ingman at the average rate of about
twenty stakans Cor tumblers) day;
the Russian stakans being quite equal
to five of the little thlmbles of cups
used in England at afternoon teas. In
deed, Russian won't be satisfied I'M
til "sedmol pot proshibyot," or 1.-The sew
enth perspiration breaks out accord
ing to the popular saying. Taking into
consideration that black, sour or bitter,
brick-lilie fish, and strongly sailed her
rings are usually the chief articles of
food of the people at large, one must
not wonder at the enormous quantity of
hot tea needed to still a Russians thirst
and help on his digestion,
The inferior sort of tea is besides,
very cheap, but of course, 1t is not the
brick" tea as used by the poor moujil1
that enjoys a worldwide reputation,
but that in use among the middle and
upper classes. In such households tea
at the price of 5s or 6s. per pound
(09o of the English pound avoirdupois)
is quite an ordinary thing, while in
Weather families los. to lbs. per pound
is frequently paid. There are choice
sorts of teas which are sold even at 20
rubles per pound, but of these only
few leaves are used to add an extra de-
licious aroma to the ordinary tea. Thus
the high quality of the tea itself
brought overland and most carefully
packed, is the chief reason of it's supe-
riority over the teas in use in Western
Europe
toa
sian method of preparing it goes a long
way to contribute to the fine taste Of
the beverage. In this process the ia
nous 'samovar' plays the principal
part, and word or two of explanation
will not be amiss. The "samovar" Is
the utensil used only for boiling the
water. They are usually made of brass
or copper, but there are also silver
samovars, the inside being lined with
another metal. In the middle there is
a kind Of chimney or fire receptacle,
around which fresh cold water is pour
ed into the samovar. Burning charcoal
or wood is thrown into the chimney, and
it usually takes about a quarter of an
hour before the water begins to boil,
this being announced by a volume of
steam from under the cover. Then the
boiling water is poured upon the tea in
the pot, and the latter placed ON the
top Of the Samovar to keep warm, as
tea ccseys are unknown in Russia. The
infusion is made very strong, but only
about fifth or quarter of glass Is
filled with it, the rest being filled up
with the boiling water A slice of lem
on or milk Is added according to taste,
and sugar is put into the glass, or used
~ prillusku,'
There is no respectable" household
in Russia without one or more samo-
vars. The utensil is turned out by the
million. Tula, the Russian Sheffield, is
famous for the production
Of this article. The samovar is in use
three or four times a day; in some
houses, indeed, 1t is kept boiling the
whole day long. The samovar may be
really termed the Russian hearth and
Preside. Around it the family and
guests assemble, drinking tea and chat
ing for hours. Its steaming and cheer