Being that I am an avid tea drinker, you can constantly find a tea in my hand. One day I decided to find out if there were benefits to the tea that I drink.
Since Russian tea is one of my all-time favorites, I began researching the Russian tea benefits to make sure that it was not benefiting my health in a negative way. To my surprise, I found out that the Russian tea benefits are outstanding for one’s health.
I am sure that my readers have wondered the same thing, so I wanted to share my findings with others around the world who may enjoy drinking Russian tea as well. With 94 percent of Russians drinking tea every day regularly, I am positive that there will be several Russian individuals who will also find my article useful.
After reading this article, you will officially know the following:
- How tea started in Russian and when.
- The most popular types of tea to try in Russia.
- The good benefits that the tea in Russia provides.
- And how to properly drink tea the true Russian way.
Who Brought Tea to Russia and When
Tea was brought to Russia in 1833 from the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens. This botanical garden is one of the oldest in the world and is located in Crimea, which is a peninsula in Eastern Europe. Before World War 1 occurred, the tea industry was not very developed in Russia.
It was not until 1958 that the tea industry began growing and many hectare tea fields were established. Afterwards, tea became a very common drink in Russia and remains a prominent part of Russia’s everyday life and culture. In fact, the average amount of tea that a person in Russia drinks each month is between 120 – 140 grams.
I would like to share a few interesting facts about Russian tea with you below:
- Russia is one of the world’s biggest tea importers with imports averaging about $548 million.
- It makes up around 9 percent of tea imports around the globe.
- Russia is home to the fourth largest consumers of tea worldwide and second largest consumers of tea in Europe.
- Depending on what part of Russia you are in, the tea preference may change among people. For example, some regions prefer black tea, and other regions prefer green tea.
When you are trying something new from a different country, you can never go wrong by learning all that you can about the culture and life of that country. If you would like to learn more facts about the amazing Russian culture, check out my other article by clicking here.
After learning the history of tea in Russia, I will go over the most popular types for you to try.
Most Popular Types of Tea in Russia
If you enjoy drinking tea as much as I do, then you already know that there are so many different types of tea to choose from. You may even be curious to know which types of tea are most popular in other countries. For that reason, I will tell you what I have learned about the different types of tea in Russia.
The most popular type of tea in Russia is black tea. I will also add that Russians do prefer to have loose leaf tea over tea bags on any day of the year. Using loose leaf tea leaves the option open to use other ingredients such as flowers or herbs because it can be easily blended. However, the most used condiment in a Russian individual’s cup of black tea is lemon.
Another popular type of tea in Russia is the Russian Caravan tea. This tea has a smokey taste and is made from different types of black teas. The thing about this type of tea is that either you hate it or love it. Some people may take one sip of it and never want to taste it again, while others may love it and cannot get enough of it. It is worth noting that every cup of Russian Caravan tea is different because they are blended differently. Therefore, I would suggest to not give up on it after only trying one cup.
Some Russians prefer green tea over black tea. In fact, this type of tea is gaining popularity. In some regions of Russia, green tea is the main type of tea brewed. So, if you are planning a trip to Russia, you should find out which type of tea is most popular where you are going. However, I do recommend that you try all types of tea in Russia.
Russian Tea Benefits for Your Health
Luckily, since Russians and myself love tea, there are many different benefits for your health that come with drinking it. Of course, it does depend on the type of tea that you choose to drink. In this section I will focus on black tea since it is the #1 most popular type of tea in Russia.
The health benefits of drinking Russian black tea include:
- The anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory ingredients of the black tea will help give your immune system a boost as well as fight off any sicknesses that may be lingering around you.
- The caffeine in the black tea may increase your energy levels if you are feeling tired or worn down. Keep in mind that some black teas have high levels of caffeine, while others have average levels.
- The ingredient called theaflavin in black tea helps give protection against several different types of cancers.
- Black tea also reduces risks to certain health issues such as high blood pressure, obesity and weight gain, high cholesterol levels, heart diseases, high blood sugar, and so much more.
After knowing these wonderful benefits of drinking black tea from Russia, I do not feel guilty for consuming it often. I am sure that you can relate to feeling guilty about eating too much candy or sweets. However, you no longer have to feel this way while enjoying a warm cup of Russian tea.
How to Drink Tea the Russian Way
Tea is the top drink choice in Russia at all times of the day. It is even more popular than alcoholic beverages. As a matter of fact, Russians prefer tea over coffee in the morning hours, which may come as a big surprise to my readers from other countries. It does not matter the occasion, the time of day, or the location; tea will always be consumed.
Below, I will provide you with a few tips on how to drink tea the Russian way:
- There are no exact rules for drinking tea the Russian way. Just know that drinking tea in Russia is a non-stop activity. If there is something to celebrate or family and friends are over, tea will be served. In Russia, inviting people over for tea is more common than going out to eat with someone.
- Make sure your tea is mostly black, as Russians typically prefer black tea over any other type of tea. You should also add a lot of sugar because this is what is expected in Russia. Make sure you do not spare any tea leaves because the stronger the tea, the better!
- You should also grab a samovar to brew your tea. A Russian samovar is a beautiful tea maker that is often used in Russia to make tea. You can check out my article about the best electric samovars “here” for more information on this unique product. If you decide to purchase a samovar, you will also need to learn how to use it, which you can find out “in this article.”
- Serve sweets, cheese, breads, or berries with your tea. Russian individuals always serve some type of snacks to their guests with their tea, and it is considered rude if the guest does not eat a little something.
As you can see, there are no crazy rules to drinking tea the Russian way. The only rule is to drink tea all day long or as you please. Russians are even known to have a cup or two before bed some nights to help digest their food.
Check out the Crazy Russian Son’s YouTube video on how Russians drink tea. He gives tips on how to drink tea like a Russian, as he is a Russian son raised by Russian parents who love to drink tea. This video will make you laugh as well as give you a detailed look at how Russian people drink tea.
Useful Resources
- Tea in Rissia: big consumption & big spending fuel market
- Russian caravan tea: taste, caffeine, history & where to buy?
- Everything you need to know about Russian tea ceremonies
- The charming history of tea in Russia
Conclusion
I hope that you find this article informative in helping you learn the Russian tea benefits. There are not a lot of food or drinks that people consume that have health benefits, so it is a nice surprise to find out that Russian tea indeed does. Therefore, you can sit back and continue drinking your delicious cup of tea with no big worries in regards to your health. If you have not given Russian tea a try, I highly recommend it.