Definition:
Zavarka is the concentrated tea infusion made especially for the Russian tea ceremony. This tea concentrate, which is usually made in a small kettle that sits atop a samovar, is used to make a full cup of tea. First a small amount of zavarka is added to the drinker's cup, then hot water from the samovar is added. The tea drinker can control the strength of the tea by adding more or less zavarka, depending on taste preference.
Not all teas are good for making zavarka. Since many teas turn bitter when steeped for a long time, it is important to find a tea that will retain a pleasant taste even if it sits in the pot for hours. A suggested tea blend for zavarka is Russian Caravan, which is a blend of teas and has a smoky flavor reminiscent of the taste of tea that crossed Eurasia overland – the tea leaves naturally absorbed the smoke from the campfires and thus It came with this particular flavor and fragrance.
However, any Chinese or Indian tea that can be steeped for a long time can be used for zavarka. Herbal or fruit teas can be mixed with black tea to make a zavarka with an even more complex flavor.
