{"id":2138,"date":"2011-06-27T08:00:28","date_gmt":"2011-06-27T08:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=2138"},"modified":"2014-07-17T14:52:44","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:52:44","slug":"tea-in-russia-is-more-than-just-tea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/tea-in-russia-is-more-than-just-tea\/","title":{"rendered":"Tea in Russia is More Than Just Tea"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you meet and befriend a Russian, at some point you will be invited over to his or her place. Such invitation won\u2019t be anything formal. Your friend might say \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u0448\u044c <\/strong>\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u043c, <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span> <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb <\/strong>[when you are in the area, do stop by] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span>, <\/strong>\u0447\u0430\u0439\u043a\u0443<\/span> <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043f\u044c\u0451<\/span>\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> [come over for some tea] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u0442 <\/strong>\u0432\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043c\u044f, <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0431\u0435\u0433\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [stop by when you have time]. The implication of such casualness is that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0430\u043c <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [you are always welcome].<\/p>\n

Russians are very \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0437\u044f<\/span>\u0435\u0432\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [genial hosts] and generally meet their guests \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0441\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0451<\/span>\u0440\u0442\u044b\u043c\u0438 <\/strong>\u043e\u0431\u044a\u044f<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u044f\u043c\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [with arms wide open], yet they also have a saying \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0435\u0437\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0439 <\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0445\u0443<\/span>\u0436\u0435 <\/strong>\u0442\u0430\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u0438\u043d\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [an uninvited guest is worse than a Tartar]. Nowadays this means that you a) avoid \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u0432 <\/strong>\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [solicit an invite] and b) no matter how casually the invite is worded, you need to call before stopping by.<\/p>\n

An invite \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u043a\u0443 <\/strong>\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [for a cup of tea] might sound simple and straightforward, but the actual \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0430\u0435\u043f\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [tea drinking] rarely is. Here\u2019s what you might expect:<\/p>\n

As a guest, you don\u2019t have much to worry about. After calling ahead to confirm, you just need to stop by \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [a confectionery shop] to pick up \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e<\/span>–<\/strong>\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u043a <\/strong>\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> [little something to go with tea]. This can be \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u0442\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [a small cake], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0435\u0447\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u044c\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [cookies], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0438\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u044b\u0435\u00bb <\/strong>[pastry], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian gingerbread cookies] or a box of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0435\u0444\u0438<\/span>\u0440\u00bb<\/strong> [Russian-style marshmallows] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0448\u043e\u043a\u043e\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0444\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [chocolate candy].<\/p>\n

Once you arrive you must change from \u00ab<\/strong>\u0443<\/span><\/strong>\u043b\u0438\u0447\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u043e<\/span><\/strong>\u0431\u0443\u0432\u044c\u00bb<\/strong> [street shoes] into \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0438\u00bb <\/strong>[house slippers] in the hallway. The hostess will apologize for \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0441\u043f\u043e\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [the mess] even though she \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0431\u0440\u0430\u043b\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u0434 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u043c\u00bb<\/strong> [tidied up right before your arrival] and everything looks \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u0438 <\/strong>\u0443\u044e<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [clean and cozy].<\/p>\n

Then the best part of your visit begins. You are shown into a kitchen. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u0443<\/span>\u0445\u043d\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [kitchen] in Russia is not just a humble utilitarian \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0435\u0449\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [room] for turning raw ingredients into delicious meals. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041a\u0443<\/span>\u0445\u043d\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> is a place to entertain guests, but only the dear ones, the ones that are \u00ab<\/strong>\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0437\u044c\u044f<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [friends], not mere \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u044b\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [acquaintances].<\/p>\n

Here, in the kitchen, you will be offered a meal. So what that the original invite was only for a cup of tea or coffee. Show me a Russian who serves you just tea or just coffee and I will tell you that they\u2019ve lived in the West for far too long.<\/p>\n

If you think that I \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0443\u0432\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u0438\u0432\u0430\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> [am exaggerating], I assure you I am not. \u00ab<\/strong>\u041b\u044e\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u044f <\/strong>\u0443\u0432\u0430\u0436\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u0449\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0441\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span> <\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0437\u044f<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [Every self-respecting hostess] has a few favorite \u00ab<\/strong>\u0440\u0435\u0446\u0435<\/span>\u043f\u0442\u044b <\/strong>\u0431\u044b<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0439 <\/strong>\u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u0435\u0447\u043a\u0438 <\/strong>\u043a <\/strong>\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> [quick tea-time recipes] ready. Just the other day I was invited to a friend\u2019s house. I was running a bit late which gave her enough time to bake not one, but two desserts, slice a giant watermelon, and assemble a few \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0443\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0431\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [sandwiches].<\/p>\n

It is your duty as a guest to try at least a little bit of everything your hostess serves you. Remember, no matter how much you eat, your hostess will likely admonish you to eat more by suggesting \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u0443\u0439 <\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0442 <\/strong>\u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [try this] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e\u0437\u044c\u043c\u0438<\/span> <\/strong>\u0435\u0449\u0435<\/span> <\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [take another small piece]. The only good way I found around this is to respond with \u00ab<\/strong>\u041f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0439 <\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u0447\u0435\u043a. <\/strong>\u041e<\/span><\/strong>\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0432\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u043e, \u043d\u043e \u044f \u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u0441\u044c \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0436\u0438\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0434\u0438\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0443\u00bb<\/strong> [This is the last bite. It\u2019s delicious, but I am trying to stick to a diet].<\/p>\n

Yet the best part of such invitation is neither food nor drink, but conversation. It is entirely in the Russian style of \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0445\u043e\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [kitchen discussions] – meandering from \u00ab<\/strong>\u0433\u043b\u043e\u0431\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [global] to \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e<\/span><\/strong>\u0447\u0435\u043d\u044c <\/strong>\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [very personal]. Such \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0438\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [get-togethers] can go on for as long as there\u2019s hot tea in \u00ab<\/strong>\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [a tea-kettle].<\/p>\n

The atmosphere is usually so genial and warm that getting up to leave might require considerable effort. That\u2019s why you might want to precede any excuse with \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a <\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0436\u0430\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044e\u00bb <\/strong>[regretfully] as in<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041a <\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0436\u0430\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044e, <\/strong>\u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0442\u0440\u0430 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043e <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u0443\u00bb <\/strong>[Regretfully, I must go to work early tomorrow].<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u041a <\/strong>\u0441\u043e\u0436\u0430\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044e, <\/strong>\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/span>. <\/strong>\u0417\u0430<\/span>\u0432\u0442\u0440\u0430 <\/strong>\u0443\u043b\u0435\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0435\u043c <\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u043e<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u0434\u044b\u0445, <\/strong>\u0430 <\/strong>\u0447\u0435\u043c\u043e\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u044b <\/strong>\u0435\u0449\u0435<\/span> <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u043d\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [Regretfully, we are going on vacation tomorrow and haven\u2019t packed the bags yet].<\/p>\n

What is your favorite \u00ab<\/strong>\u0435\u0434\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043a <\/strong>\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u044e\u00bb<\/strong> [tea-time food]?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

If you meet and befriend a Russian, at some point you will be invited over to his or her place. Such invitation won\u2019t be anything formal. Your friend might say \u00ab\u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0448\u044c \u0440\u044f\u0434\u043e\u043c, \u0437\u0430\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438 \u0432 \u0433\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb [when you are in the area, do stop by] or \u00ab\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438, \u0447\u0430\u0439\u043a\u0443 \u043f\u043e\u043f\u044c\u0451\u043c\u00bb [come over for some tea] or \u00ab\u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0442…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":2139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,913],"tags":[60725,1227,385636,385639,60724,1288,1298],"class_list":["post-2138","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-traditions","tag-chai","tag-russian-culture","tag-russian-food","tag-russian-life","tag-russian-tea","tag-russian-traditions","tag-russian-words"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2138"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6331,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2138\/revisions\/6331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}