Tea for Two

Entertaining someone at home in Russia almost always means inviting them for tea.

Depending on the time of day and other circumstances, “having tea” can be a lavish spread or something simple. I go for simple.

When my friend Irina Medvedeva came to visit, I served good Chinese tea, some sweet cakes, and fruit. Fresh fruit and something sweet are requirements. I should have had some home-made varenniye jam, but I didn’t. And I didn’t bother making any open-faced sandwiches or other substantive fare.  

Years ago, when I first came to Russia, I was mystified by the social practice of having tea. It seemed that it could mean anything. In the evening it would take the place of supper, and there could be many side dishes. Tea in the morning or afternoon could involve home-made pastries or store-bought pizza. Then I learned the one rule about having tea: Never serve a soup.

Russians like to have soup every day if they can. The meal that has soup, usually in the middle of the day, is called dinner.  

I have learned to appreciate good loose tea. It can be steeped more than once, and when it is made strong, it can be served in a small pot and then diluted with hot water at serving time.

I’ve left out one important aspect of a Russian tea, and that is conversation. It's the real reason we get together. Comments that my friends have made about Russia today will be the subject of a later message.