A teapot filled with brew, or zavarka in Russian, goes on top to stay warm… you then dilute the brew with hot water just for your cup of tea.

“When we want to cool the tea down we add cold water in the cup, which frankly ruins the taste,” noted Ziskin. “But in the past, people would pour their tea into a saucer. We hardly ever do it now….but next to a samovar, with all this smell, it seems perfectly natural. That’s how Russian merchants did it!”

And the Russians loved their samovars. More than just a water-boiling device, it was a symbol of home, bringing friends and family together. A small party meant just for one person was even dubbed “selfish”. Tea time was very much a social thing.

If relatives or friends weren’t speaking to each other for some reason, they’d meet for tea to make up… and used their samovar as a mediator. They’d actually talk to it, asking to pass on their message.

The first Russian samovar was made in the 18th century and soon people throughout the country couldn’t imagine living without it. Samovar competitions became all the rage – the biggest ones usually won.

Many samovars were destroyed during World War II, melted into bullets by order of Stalin. But a lot of them survived. And if they’re lucky they can even get a new life – here. In his workshop, Valery Shakhray, a samovar restorer, collects old samovars and restores them to their former glory. A completely restored samovar will set you back some $2,000. But for him, it’s more than just business:

“Each samovar has a story to tell – a story not just about someone who used it a hundred years ago, but a story of someone who made it. Just like people, they’re all different. This simple-looking thing is made up of some 45 pieces! Putting it all back together is quite a job!”

And whether they’re used purely for decoration or actual tea-making, samovars have firmly become part of Russian exotica.

Barack Obama was treated to a cup of tea from a samovar, kindled in a traditional way – with a jackboot…

And it’s no surprise that samovars are a permanent fixture in souvenir shops.

A Russian writer once said that while in Europe it’s hard to imagine a home without a fireplace, in Russia it’s hard to imaging a home without a samovar. Not every Russian home now has one. But you can hardly find a taste more Russian than a cup of tea brewed in a samovar.

For more pictures of samovars, visit RT Galleries.