Prehistory

Tea was a competitor of sbiten, the most favourite drink in Russia. Its components are: hot water, medicinal herbs and honey.

Tea-pot samovar (sbitennik). Red copper. Late 18th cent

In the 18-th century in the Urals and Tula samovar-kitchens were invented, they were divided into three parts — in two of them the meals was cooked, in the third — tea. Sbitennik and samovar-kitchen were samovar prototypes.

Tea-pot samovar. Red copper, brass. Late 18th cent.