Конечно, чай - не исконно русский напиток.However, during those centuries that he was drunk in Russia, he strongly influenced the culture of the country, not only for cooking and etiquette. This hot drink contributed to the development of international trade, industry and folk crafts. Today, Russia occupies one of the first places in its consumption per capita. But despite this, very few people know how in Russia tea appeared and who brought it first to their homeland. But the story is more than entertaining.
Only a legend
Of course, the exact date of the appearance of tea on the Russianthe earth does not exist. However, all historians agree that it happened in the 16-17th centuries - even earlier than in England and Holland. According to one of the versions, ataman Petrov and Yalyshev tried it for the first time under Ivan the Terrible. According to the information of the famous collector of the ancient texts of I. Sakharov, this happened in 1567. However, later historians expressed a different version about who brought the tea to Russia.
The first Russian tasters ...
Так, в 1638 году русский посол Василий Старков was sent with a mission to the Mongol khan Altan Kuchkun. As a present, golden utensils, expensive sable fur, wild honey and cloth were presumed to him. Khan liked Russian gifts so much that he sent a whole caravan in return. Among the gifts were four bales of tea.
However, the Russian Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich not immediatelyappreciated dried grass, considering it unsuitable. Only after Vasily Starkov’s detailed inquiries was the drink “tea” appreciated, but without regular supplies from China it was quickly forgotten.
Remembered about him only almost 30 years later, whenhis son, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, was already sick. The court physician offered tea as a healing drink. For a long time, tea was considered a medicine. Everything changed the Khan's further campaign to Moscow. Since the end of the 17th century, tea drinking has become part of Russian culture.
... and the first tea traditions
Так, доставка в Россию, вплоть до 19-го века, was carried out by land caravans, which went from China for 16 months. The cost of tea was high. This drink was clearly not affordable for an ordinary Russian person. Most of the members of the royal family, boyars, nobles, and rich merchants could afford it. It was at this time that the presence of tea in the house is considered a sign of prosperity and prosperity, and their tea traditions appear in Russia.
So, unlike in China, it was taken to drink inbig company, giving him jams, pastries and other sweets. Brewed tea in a special teapot, then diluted with boiling water. So this hot drink is drunk only in Russia - this is a national tradition. The appearance of tea in Russia led to the invention of a samovar, which could not be better suited to Russian tea drinking.
With the opening of the Siberian Railway (at the end19th century) and the beginning of the export of tea from Ceylon and India, the cost of the drink dropped sharply and they began to drink it everywhere. Of course, the nobility still preferred the elite varieties from North China. Peasants and city dwellers preferred the cheaper Indian varieties or even surrogates. That tea was the first product that began to forge in Russia.
Impact on industry and commerce
The history of tea in Russia is closely connected with the developmentinternational trade relations and industry development. For a long time, tea was brought from North China, making a long transition through Siberia, which contributed a lot to the development of this part of the country as an industrial and commercial center. The same Irkutsk, up to the beginning of the 20th century, was a transit point for all tea caravans. In addition, in China from Russia, they brought in return cloth, furs and honey. By the end of the 19th century, trade between the countries amounted to 6 million rubles - one third of all imports to the Russian Empire.
Moreover, after tea appeared in Russia,new factories began to emerge. So, Tula became the center of samovar production. Already in the middle of the 19th century, up to 120,000 a year were made at 28 different factories. To this day, the Tula samovar is considered one of the symbols of Russia. Also at the end of the 18th century, the production of Russian porcelain began, to which the Russian Empress Catherine II greatly contributed. There were quite a few private manufactories that made it for the mass market. The best products, which later also became part of Russian culture, were produced at the Imperial Porcelain Factory (today - Lomonosov).
Tea in Russian
Сегодня уже трудно представить Россию без чая.His influence on Russian culture is difficult to overestimate. Every day, every resident of the country drinks at least 3-4 cups a day. There are also traditions. So, what is it - tea in Russian? And how is it so different from the Eastern ceremony, where the main thing is to dive into your inner world? And why, after tea appeared in Russia, they began to consider it a symbol of hospitality?
Since Russians have always been distinguished by generosity andkindness, then warming tea quickly began to be perceived as an opportunity to show your location to a dear guest. That is why in Russia always served him all sorts of delicacies - rolls, donuts, homemade jam and wild honey. Also, only in Russia, it was customary to drink tea “at a hint”. It was believed that the only way to enjoy its unique taste. And lemon tea is called Russian all over the world. Another national tradition is to drink tea from glass cups with cup holders.
In general, it can be said that Russian tea drinking isThis, above all, long, unhurried conversation. It was for tea that they invited and invited friends, relatives and colleagues when they want to establish or strengthen relations.
Own production
Chinese and Indian origin of teaimported into Russia, made the country dependent on imports. However, for a long time it was believed that it was impossible to grow Russian tea due to adverse environmental conditions. For the first time it was possible to do this only in 1817 on the territory of the Crimea. However, the matter did not go further than experimental and exhibition samples.
Industrial production was established only inSoviet Union. Much of this contributed to the love of I. V. Stalin to this drink. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the first crop of Russian tea was successfully harvested in Georgia. Then it began to grow in Azerbaijan and Krasnodar Territory. The peak of popularity of the national product came in the 70s. However, the desire to reduce the cost of leadership cost has led to a sharp decline in the quality of the drink. As a result, the demand for local tea among the population has fallen.
Impact on culture
Today, tea is an integral part of Russia.commons L. Tolstoy, F. Dostoevsky and A. Pushkin drank it with pleasure. There was a lot of steady expressions about him. Perhaps the most famous of them - "give a tip". A picture Kustodiev "Merchant" and did become a kind of hymn to Russian tea drinking. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this drink for Russia. And it does not matter how tea appeared in Russia, but without it the country would be completely different.
