FAQ

Samovar is a Russian invention. The first samovar was made in the village of Nizhne-Irginsk (Perm Territory, Urals). Similar devices (with a chimney inside) can also be found in other countries, for example, in China. There, it is usually, a caldron type device with a chimney, and is used to cook various dishes.

The shape of a samovar is determined by the shape of its body: round – a sphere samovar; oval – an egg shaped samovar; cylindrical – a barrel shaped samovar; with interception in the upper or lower part – a samovar-vase, etc.

Initially, samovars used charcoal, wood chips or cones as fuel, therefore they were called zcharoviye. Modern samovars use electric heaters in the form of a metal spiral, with a cord (an electric plug).

First of all for boiling water, although there were samovars for making coffee or samovars-kitchens for cooking simple meals, such as porridge or broth.

1.  Pour water into the body of the samovar and close the lid.
2. Place fuel ( charcoal, wood chips or cones ) into the chimney and light the fuel with matches.
3. To extinguish the fire in the chimney, close the cap on the top of the samovar, and after a couple of minutes the fire will go out. It prevents the air flow inside necessary for combustion.

The stamp/engraving on the samovar helps to determine the name of the manufacturer and the time of manufacture (approximately). The stamp was placed on all samovars (19-20 centuries), but with time, the stamp can be erased during cleaning of the samovar surface.

The following techniques were often used in manufacturing of samovars: hand forging, figure casting, metalwork, assembly (mounting), pressure, cleaning and polishing of surfaces, nickel plating of external surfaces, tinning (tin coating) of the inner wall.

Samovar is originally a Russian invention and can also be found in countries that were once part of the Russian Empire or the USSR: Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, etc.. Samovars from Russia were also imported to Persia (Iran).

Samovar first appeared in 1738, in the village.of  Nizhne-Irgtinsk.

A wood samovar is often called zcharovoy. It uses charcoal, wood chips or cones as fuel to heat the samovar.

Samovar with an internal electric heater in the form of a metal spiral.

The relief pattern on the samovar wall is done using special hammers, on a specially cast steel mold. First, part of the samovar wall is heated in the forge, then the mold is applied over it and is chased using a hammer.

Bouillotte is a French word, meaning “hot water bottle”. The device was used in the UK, France, Germany and the USA.

A bouillotte can be alcohol based – with a small alcohol burner underneath, or kettlebell – without an alcohol lamp, but with a short pipe inside, where the red-hot kettlebell was lowered.

Samovar is used to boil water and a bouillotte is used to keep it warm.

Tea came to Russia from China, under Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, approximately  in 1638.

Coffee was brought to Russia by Peter the Great, after his return from Europe, where he spent almost 1.5 years (1697-1698).

The original Russian hot drink is a sbiten, which lost its popularity only in the 20th century. This is a infusion of fragrant herbs (mint, thyme, oregano, etc.) with honey and spices.

Sbiten ( which is already sweet) was served on its own or with bagels.
Tea was typically served with honey, jam, crushed sugar, pastille, sweet pastries, gingerbread, bagels, pastry or other sweets.