Alright, let’s talk about this Russian tea set thing, you know? I ain’t no fancy pants expert, but I know a thing or two about makin’ a good cuppa, the way my grandma taught me.

First off, you gotta get yourself a good kettle. Now, some folks say you need that fancy filtered water. I say, well, if your water tastes alright outta the tap, it’s probably good enough. Ain’t nobody got time for all that fussin’ unless your water tastes like dirt, then maybe you should do somethin’ about it.

Then comes the heatin’ part. Get that water boilin’ good, real bubbly-like. But don’t go crazy and let it boil forever, ’cause then the tea tastes flat, like it’s been sittin’ around too long. It’s like when you leave a pot of stew on the stove too long, it just ain’t the same, you know?

Now, for the tea itself. You can use them little tea bags if you want, but I like the loose leaf kind better. Seems like it’s got more flavor, more…oomph. One bag per cup, or a spoonful of the loose stuff, that’s what I do. And don’t skimp on the tea, you want it strong, not some weak, watery mess.

• Step 1: Boil Water Get that water nice and hot, but not too hot like I said.
• Step 2: Tea Time Put your tea in a pot or a cup, however you like to do it.
• Step 3: Steep It Good Let that tea sit in the hot water for a bit, let it get strong. The package usually tells you how long, but I just kinda guess.

Now, some folks, they do it this fancy way, they call it Zavarka Russian Tea. Sounds all highfalutin, but it ain’t that complicated. You put the loose tea in a little pot, pour in the hot water, and let it sit for a good long while, like 10 minutes or somethin’. That makes it real strong, like a concentrate. Then you pour a little bit of that strong stuff in your cup and fill it up with hot water the rest of the way.

It’s like makin’ juice from concentrate, you know? You put in a little bit of the juice and then you add water to make it drinkable. It’s the same idea with this Zavarka tea. It’s strong, real strong, so you gotta be careful not to put too much in your cup, or else it’ll be too bitter. I learned it from a neighbor, she was from over that way somewhere. She said it’s the real way to do it. Who am I to argue?

And speakin’ of strong tea, I heard some folks say real Russian tea drinkers, they don’t just go to the store and buy tea. They go to the forest and pick their own herbs and stuff. Well, I ain’t got time for that, I got things to do! But if you wanna be all fancy and authentic, you could try that, I guess. Just be careful you don’t pick somethin’ poisonous!

Then, there’s all this talk about addin’ stuff to your tea. Pineapple juice? Orange juice? Sugar? Sounds kinda weird to me, but hey, to each their own. I like my tea plain, maybe with a little bit of sugar if I’m feelin’ fancy. But you do what you want, it’s your tea, ain’t nobody gonna tell you how to drink it.

So, there you have it. That’s about all I know about this Russian tea set business. It ain’t rocket science, just boil some water, put in some tea, let it steep, and drink it up. And if you wanna get all fancy with it, you can try that Zavarka way, or go pick your own herbs in the forest. Just remember, the most important thing is to make it the way you like it. That’s what makes a good cuppa tea, whether it’s Russian or not.

Oh and one more thing. Don’t forget to clean your tea set after you’re done. Nothin’ worse than a dirty tea pot. Just use some hot water and soap, that’s all you need.

Tags: [Russian Tea, Tea Set, Zavarka, Brewing Tea, Tea Recipe, Hot Beverages, Russian Culture]