Samovar Chronicles, Vol. 3
John Randolph
samovar (russian self-boiling tea urn) working. I wanted an old fashioned
one, not electric, but heated by charcoals stoked inside the urn's chimney.
After some searching, I bought one through e-bay which, though not fancy,
suits my needs well. It's a lovely piece, but not antique, made in India in
the 1930s.
The interior looked smooth and eminently useable. Unfortunately, subsequent
testing showed high concentrations of lead on the inside surface. Not
wishing to poison my guests, I tossed about a bit and then stepped up to
phase three: the plater. The samovar is currently being tin-lined.
ETA to drinking: some 20 days. By then, however, I intend to have the
zakuski (hors d'oeuvres) making down.
Anyone with samovar experience encouraged to get in touch. I hope to make a
web page about all this some day.
John
Tamara Danilenko
In message <7r8hme$jde$1...@fir.prod.itd.earthlink.net>, "John Randolph"
<jwran...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
> Anyone with samovar experience encouraged to get in touch. I hope to make
a
> web page about all this some day.
>
> John
>
>
>
I was interested in your article. I have a samovar myself but it is a electric
one. My parents have a *real* one, made in the former USSR in the 1920s or
1930. We still use it sometimes. Inside it is covered with lime so I did
not think about lead so far. We take it outside to light it with charcoal
and when it burns bring it back inside. I think you know the importance of
pouring the water in FIRST. I know that there is a kind of extended chimney
to make it draw better but we do not have one. I use stromg tea for the samovar
for example assam or a *russian tea* which is sold here in germany to be used
with the samovar. Usually I make a very strong brew and take the leaves out
again so it will not become bitter. But my ukrainian aunt told me that she
will take less tea and leave the leaves in the pot. Since we usually do not
have real varenje we take jam with the tea instead.
Since the samovar burns for hours and is really big it is always an event
when we use it. I think it is made out of brass. I am really looking forward
to hear about your experiences with the samovar.
Tamara
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