English afternoon tea and the Japanese tea ceremony are famous all over the world. Have you ever realised that drinking tea in Russia is as popular as in England or Japan?

When visiting Russia, you are sure to be invited

to tea. In the past, water for tea was boiled in a samovar - the symbol of the Russian tea ceremony. Today teapots with plain decoration are used for everyday tea drinking;

for more ceremonial occasions, tea is served in more festive teapots. Some 50-60 years ago it was customary to serve tea in a glass which was put into a special glass holder.The tradition of serving tea in such glasses with glass holders is still kept in long-distance trains.