It has been more than two months since I've arrived in Russia, and every single day without fail that I have lived here, I have drank at least one cup of tea. That makes for a lot of tea, caffeine, cups, and needless to say…sweets that accompany all of that!
There is always a reason to drink tea be it for a birthday celebration, a relaxing time at home, a chat with a friend, or a wake up call during breakfast. And to make it more fun, the more varying the tea cups are, the better! Here is a continued list of tea cups I have encountered so far.
This cup comes from a hand-drawn set. It wasn't lacquered like nearly all other porcelain cups, which made it really interesting to hold and feel every single paint-bump and matte, grainy texture.
As you can tell from the heart-shaped cake in the background, tea was served in these cups for the occasion of one of my distant relative's birthday celebrations.
At the apartment where my cousin lives, we have a gorgeous double-basin glass tea pot that is perfect to use when the tea leaves are unusually pretty and flowers open up to beautiful blossoms. Observing that 'flowering' process makes the whole process of drinking tea exponentially more pleasant and interesting.
Oh this? No big deal…just the casual tea pot that I have the privilege of making tea in EVERY SINGLE DAY!
This beauty was a present to my cousin from her mother and sister on her wedding day.
The accompanying tea cups are equally exuberant, rococo-esque, light, and delicate.
They seem to make the tea taste significantly better than plain mugs I'm used to drinking out of. Or maybe that's just the aesthetic aspect getting to my taste buds ;)
Occasionally, I go to a Russian class to evolve my knowledge and comprehension of the language and literature. Even there, in the teacher's home, we (the students) are served tea half way into the lesson in order to maintain our Russian-ness and for an extra boost of energy to get through the three-hour lesson.
Just looking at this fun tea cup gives me the necessary burst of energy to keep paying attention and learning.
At the birthday dinner of my godmother's mother's house - I was one of the few 'honorary guests' who was served tea in this luxurious, minimalistic, lovely tea cup.
Definitely felt like I needed to drink with my pinky up!
At my Grandmother Galia's house, celebrating March 8th - International Women's Day, which is a very important and respected holiday. On that day, I was congratulated many times by men I wasn't acquainted with - a typical custom here.
Don't worry, men - on March 23rd is your day and all the women will congratulate you too!
Turns out March is a very popular birthday month!
At my birthday dinner! These simplistic cups look very fancy and neat when they are all placed on the table together. My grandmother has had these her whole life - even when my dad was a boy living in this very house, these were the tea cups he and his friends used.
And finally, though not exactly tea cups, I couldn't not include a picture of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Russian travel mugs.
Very similar to the ones in the US, this place also has their own doughnut-making conveyor belt, which you can watch as the deliciousness is created. Though I have to say, the American doughnuts taste better…
ALL: actually bought a doughnut - can you believe it? Couldn't find the correct dumpster ;)
Phew! That was a long post! Don't you want to make yourself a nice cup of tea now and enjoy with a doughnut in hand? I sure do, so that's what I'm off to do now. Until next time! :)
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