Every year on December 15, International Tea Day is celebrated in all countries that hold the status of the world's leading tea producers.
A cup of hot nosey tea on a cold winter day is the best way to warm up and get a boost of energy. Although, in our time of high speed and constant haste, a tea ceremony often involve only of a disposable tea bag and a ceramic mug. But there were times when the preparation of the tea table was unhurried, and tea table setting was made following the currently accepted rules and fashion.

The tea was consumed rather quickly in the Russian Сzardom in 1638. Tea came into use – first at the tsar's court, then among the boyars and finally among wealthy urban residents. In 1679, the first treaty with China on regular tea supplies was concluded. By the end of the 17^th century, tea was already being sold in Moscow shops along with other everyday essentials. However, among ordinary people, tea, with few exceptions, was considered an inaccessible luxury item. It was only in the second half of the 18^th century that tea consumption became generally available, first developing at hostelries and post houses.

In the middle of the 19^th century, tea became common among ordinary people: first among factory workers, stagecoach drivers, cab drivers, craftsmen, servants, and then among peasants. In nooks and remote areas, for example, in the northern provinces, tea was not drunk even at the end of the 19^th century.
At the turn of the 17^th–18^th centuries, a new cult product – tea, appeared in the life of Russian people. Some of them are ubiquitous to this day, others have become more like a fact of history.

Tea drinking has a significant role in the Russian culture. Tea is actually a universal beverage – it warms a person on a cold winter evening and perfectly cools down on a hot summer day, invigorates in the morning and suggests a leisurely, pleasant afternoon chat in the company of people near and dear to each other. The peculiarity of the Russian tea drinking tradition was its basing on the process itself – tea was never wasted, various snacks were served on the table – lump sugar, sweet and savoury pies, jam and honey, dried biscuits, hard ring-shaped rolls, and on holidays – gingerbreads.

A story about tea and tea drinking traditions in Russia is posted in the column "Audio-stories".

Multifarious items for a tea ceremony – teapots, sugar bowls, glass holders, cups – the works of talented artisans of the 19th – early 20th centuries are presented in the thematic photo album ‘Winter Tea Party’.

The collection section "Decorative Arts and Jewellery” features a variety of items related to tea drinking. These are tea pairs and glass holders, tea kettles and sugar bowls, milk jugs and teapots, created by prominent Russian artisans from various materials and in different techniques.

On the cover: Composition ‘Tea-time’. Germany, Idar-Oberstein. The 20^th century