samovar

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A samovar (Russian: самовар, pronounced [səmɐˈvar]  ( listen); literally "self-boiler") is a heated metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water in and around Russia, as well as in other Central, South-Eastern, Eastern European countries, and in the Middle-East. Since the heated water is usually used for making tea, many samovars have an attachment on the tops of their lids to hold and heat a teapot filled with tea concentrate. Samovars are said to have been invented in Central Asia, though their origin is a matter of dispute. For example, some argue that it is purely a Russian invention given that the samovar appeared in Iran not later than in 18th century, and it bears the same Russian name "samovar" which translates to self-brewer.

Though traditionally heated with coal or charcoal, many newer samovars use electricity and heat water in a similar manner as an electric water boiler.

An 18th-century samovar of Baroque shape, depicted on a 1989 USSR postage stamp	Samovar type "barrel". Begin of 19th-century
Samovar, ca 1830-40, depicted on a 1989 USSR postage stamp	A Late Classical samovar, ca 1840-50, depicted on a 1989 USSR postage stamp

Description

Samovars come in different body shapes: urn- or krater-shaped, barrel, cylindric, spherical.

A typical samovar consists of a body, base and chimney, cover and steam vent, handles, faucet and key, crown and ring, chimney extension and cap, drip-bowl, and teapots.

A traditional samovar consists of a large metal container with a faucet near the bottom and a metal pipe running vertically through the middle. Samovars are typically crafted out of copper, brass, bronze, silver, gold, tin or nickel. The pipe is filled with solid fuel to heat the water in the surrounding container. A small (6 to 8 inches) smoke-stack is put on the top to ensure draft. After the fire is off a teapot could be placed on top to be kept heated with the passing hot air. The teapot is used to brew the заварка (zavarka), a strong concentrate of tea. The tea is served by diluting this concentrate with (кипяток) kipyatok (boiled water) from the main container, usually at a ratio of about 10 parts water to one part tea concentrate, although tastes vary.

It is particularly well-suited to tea-drinking in a communal setting over a protracted period. The Russian expression "to have a sit by samovar" means to have a leisurely talk while drinking tea from samovar. This compares with the German Kaffeeklatsch, Turkish nargile culture or (superficially) with the Japanese tea ceremony.

In everyday use it was an economical permanent source of hot water in older times. Various slow-burning items could be used for fuel, such as charcoal or dry pinecones. When not in use, the fire in the samovar pipe was faintly smouldering. When necessary, it was quickly rekindled with the help of bellows. Although a Russian jackboot сапог (sapog) could be used for this purpose, there were bellows manufactured specifically for use on samovars.

The samovar was an important attribute of a Russian household. Sizes and designs varied, from "40-pail" ones of 400 litres (100 US gallons) to 1 litre (1 US quart) size, from cylindrical to spherical, from plain iron to polished brass to gilt.

In modern times, the samovar is mostly associated with Russian exotica and nostalgia^{[citation needed]}, though they are also quite popular with Iranian immigrants and their descendants. Today electric samovars are available. Samovars may be purchased in Europe, and in the US they may be found in neighborhoods with heavily Slavic populations, such as New York's East Village or Coney Island in Brooklyn, or in areas with large Iranian populations like Los Angeles, California.

History

Russian silver & Enamel - Samovar from the late 19th Century

Russian silver & Enamel - Samovar With Cup & Tray from the late 19th Century

Russian Samovar.

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Samovars in Iran

In Iran, samovars have been used at least for two centuries and electrical, oil-burning or natural gas-consuming samovars are still being used everywhere. Samovar is pronounced as samāvar in Persian and it was originally imported from Russia but Iranian craftsmen used Persian art to produce artful samovars. The Iranian city of Borujerd has been the main centre of making samovars and a few workshops are still producing hand-made samovars. Borujerd’s samovars are often made with German silver which is a part of its famous Varsho-Sazi art. The art samovars of Borujerd are often shown in Iranian and Western countries' museums as a part of Iranian art.

References

• Israfil, Nabi (1990) Samovars: The Art of the Russian Metal Workers, Fil Caravan Inc. ISBN 0-9629138-0-4

External links

• Brew The Perfect Tea

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