The Washington times., 1904-09-10
THE HOME ITS PROBLEMS AND INTERESTS
HOW THEY DRINK TEA
IN THE CZKPS EMPIRE
Though Not the National Beverage, Tea of the
Highest Grade Is Considered a Necessity.

Since the war IN the East has brought
Into greater prominence the two coun-
tries OF Russia and Japan Western peo-
pie have become suddenly interested in
the manners and customs of both of
these nations. What they do In Russia
and in Japan" is an expression one hears
on all sides. The sympathy Of Ameri-
cans is for the most part with the plucky
little Jap. hut as a social function the
smart set has taken up with enthusiasm
the Russian tea as a summer diver
sion.
For this new afternoon function my
lady must needs have a handsome samo-
var IN which to brew the cheering bev-
craze. An ancient samovar Is an en-
viable possession. but. barring this, a
stunning copper urn OF modern work
manship polished to the vanishing point
takes the place of honor on her tea
table.
This table is laid with a cloth made
beautiful! with Russian cross stitch en-
broIdery or some elaborate border work
carried out in gold thread and gay col
ored silk.
Russian tea is generally made in n
email teapot, two or three teaspoon
fuis being considered sufficient for a
moderate brewing. The teapot is kept
on top Of a samoVar which everyone
knows is a kind of copper kettle so con-
strucJed as TO burn charcoal in an in
ner tube. so that a plentiful supply OF
hot water is always ready, while the
! teapot by this means Is Kept hot at the
same time. The Russians drink their
| tea out of a small tumbler which has
about an inch of the beverage poured
into it and is then filled up with hot
water from the samovar. Thin slices
| of lemon and brandy are served with
/ the drink. and In some instances cook
| ed cherries and other fruits are mixed
with it, or, a spoonful Of jam is stirred
] In. but Occidental palates viii hardly
appre ciate these additional favorinGs.
The quality Of tea used by the aus
SLAMS is invariably OF a superior quality.
Even the lower classes pay a good
price for this luxury. 1t is brought
| overland from China, generally in the
/ forms Of bricks, and this is the reason
/ why the tea in the Gar S empire Is so
remarkably good. A sea journey has a
/ bad effect upon tea, no matter how
carefully II IS packed.
Although the national beverage OF the
/ country is hydromel. tea is looked upon
as an absolute necessity, and in all
! business offices Il Is provided gratis 70
/ employees. All business transactions are
/ made over a glass Of tea, and so inti-
1 mately associated with Russian life is
4 tea drinking that the mcnial when de-
manding a tip asks for ma chic, which,
! translated, Is tea money.
/ Milk is seldom taken In Russian tea,
| and among the lower classes sugar Is
not deemed essential. but when used a
lump of Il Is held between the teeth
| the tea being sucked up through IT,
such an important part is played by
/ the samovar in Russian domestic life
1 that there Is a proverb often quoted
| Take samovars to Tula," the equiva-
| lent for carrying Goals 10 Newcastle.
/ Tula is a manufacturing town where
| sarnOvars are made and exported al
over the empire.
The old peasants sigh when the sub
4 iect OF tea drinking is discussed and
are often heard 70 remark, ''Ah, holy
| Russia has never been the same since
we drank so much tea" This unfortu-
! nate habit may account for the defeat
! of the Russian forces both on land and
sea but, then, their successful rivals
| the japanese. are inveterate tea imbi-
! bers