If you are interested in improving your tea practice, then a samovar is sure to elevate your experience. The zavarka is a unique way to brew tea that originated in Russia. Use this guide on how to brew tea using a samovar and a zavarka.
The samovar is used during social gatherings of two or more people and can quickly become a focal point with it’s beautifully ornate design. The teapot that detaches from the samovar’s main compartment is used to brew a zavarka. A zavarka is a unique tea brewing method which originated in Russia and is simple to make.
How to Make a Zavarka
A zavarka is a tea concentrate. To make a zavarka simply steep an infuser with loose leaf tea inside a teapot. Steep the tea longer than you normally would, yes this means don’t follow the original instructions on the required steeping times. I usually steep my zavarka for at least 15 minutes before consuming. So, it’s very normal to have the tea concentrate be bitter.
When it is time to consume the tea, each person adds a small amount of the zavarka to their cup and then pours hot water (from the samovar) to ‘dilute’ the concentrate. So, each person chooses how strong they want their tea to be. I love that the tea never gets cold using this method, even if the party lasts more than an hour!
What is a Samovar?
Each traditional samovar design is unique and beautiful. Commonly hand painted, the samovar is a beautiful decorative item and is a definite show stopper at any tea party.
The samovar consists of two parts. The bottom part, or the large metal container is an electric water boiler with a spigot. The top part of the samovar is a teapot, which sits on a dedicated rest on top of the bottom container. When the zavarka is ready to drink, the concentrate is added to a cup and hot water is poured over. When not in use, the teapot is placed on the teapot rest and is kept warm from the rising heat while the zavaka continues to be brewed.
Tea To Brew
You can brew black tea or herbal tea using the zavarka method. Here is a list of some tea varieties that make a great zavarka:
- Ceylon
- Assam
- Russian Caravan
- Black tea with citrus flavors
- Rooibos
- Chamomile and Lemon Balm
- Ivan Chai
Let me know what other tea you like to brew using this method.