is an urn with a spigot or hinged in a stand with a spout in which liquid
is heated by means of a heat source beneath the urn is an urn with a spigot or hinged in a stand with a spout in which liquid
is heated by means of a heat source beneath the urn or in older versions, by
way of an interior flu into which hot coals or stones are inserted. Many
urns include a teapot which is placed atop the heated flu for the purpose of
brewing and keeping the concentrated black tea, called zavarka, hot. Samovárs may
also include trays and cups in the same decorative motif, as well. Zavarka is poured into cups and then
diluted to each individual’s desired intensity with hot water from the samovár. Some samovárs are heavily wrought with
decoration and traditional motifs and are made with precious metals, porcelain,
and enamel and can be highly ceremonial. A cамова́р or samovár,
meaning literally "self-boil" from the
Russian, само́ or samó, “self” and вари́ть or varítʹ,"to boil/cook", are used to boil water for the
dark, rich zavarka tea.
In the bitter winters in Russia, the warmth and communal opportunities
provided by the samovár made it a significant part of Russian culture, not
just in Russia but also in surrounding regions where cultural groups share some
of Russia's customs and values, such as in Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern
Europe, the Middle-East, and in Kashmir, among others. A самова́р or samovár is typically handed down in families and
is a much cherished traditional culinary object. In complement to the samovár’s sign of hospitality, it may
often be draped with a cord of strung bubliki, or Russian bagels, which are
traditionally served with the tea.
