Chifir (Russian: чифи́рь, romanized: čifir', or alternatively, чифи́р) is an exceptionally strong tea, associated with and brewed in Soviet and post-Soviet detention facilities such as gulags and prisons.
Preparation of chifir in an enamel mug
Some sources mention properties of a light drug, causing addiction.
The etymology is uncertain but is thought to come from the word chikhir' (чихирь) meaning a strong Caucasian wine, or a Siberian word for wine that has gone off and become sour and acidic.[1]
Chifir is typically prepared with 5–8 tablespoons (50–100 ml) of loose tea (or tea bags) per person poured on top of the boiled water.[citation needed] It is brewed without stirring – at least until the leaves drop to the bottom of the cup.[citation needed] During the brewing process, the leaves start to release adenine and guanine into the water, which does not happen during traditional tea-making.[citation needed] Sugar is sometimes added; the nature of the brew tends to result in a bitter flavor.[2]
It is to be carefully sipped, otherwise it may cause vomiting.[citation needed] Ultimately, making chifir involves brewing a great deal of black tea and for a long time. It may be left to brew overnight and drunk either hot or cold.
In popular cultureedit
Irina Ratushinskaya describes the brewing of narcotically strong chifir as a banned activity sometimes undertaken by prisoners, in her memoir of her years as a political prisoner, Grey Is The Colour Of Hope.
In Vasily Aksyonov's novel Ozhog ('The Burn'), the convict Shilo makes chifir in a tushonka tin and gives it to Tolya von Steinbock. Tolya falls into a blissful, dreamlike state, but is awake enough to overhear an escape plan being hatched.
Several characters drink chifir in The Kolyma Tales, a collection of short stories about Gulag life by former Gulag prisoner Varlam Shalamov.
In Jules Verne's novel In Search of the Castaways when the heroes visit Australia, Paganel requests tea made according to local custom, and is served a drink made by boiling half a pound of tea in a litre of water for four hours. Shalamov mentions this in his aforementioned stories to demonstrate chifir' is not a new invention.
In the book series Ciaphas Cain, many characters drink a version of Chifir called Tanna.
See alsoedit
Sa'idi tea, a somewhat similar beverage (essentially a weaker grade, but consumed in larger quantities) drunk in Upper Egypt and among Sa'idi people elsewhere
Zavarka, concentrated tea used in brewing tea from a Samovar
chifir, russian, чифи, рь, romanized, čifir, alternatively, чифи, exceptionally, strong, associated, with, brewed, soviet, post, soviet, detention, facilities, such, gulags, prisons, preparation, chifir, enamel, mugsome, sources, mention, properties, light, dr. Chifir Russian chifi r romanized cifir or alternatively chifi r is an exceptionally strong tea associated with and brewed in Soviet and post Soviet detention facilities such as gulags and prisons Preparation of chifir in an enamel mugSome sources mention properties of a light drug causing addiction Contents 1 Etymology 2 Preparation 3 In popular culture 4 See also 5 ReferencesEtymology editThe etymology is uncertain but is thought to come from the word chikhir chihir meaning a strong Caucasian wine or a Siberian word for wine that has gone off and become sour and acidic 1 Preparation editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed June 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Chifir is typically prepared with 5 8 tablespoons 50 100 ml of loose tea or tea bags per person poured on top of the boiled water citation needed It is brewed without stirring at least until the leaves drop to the bottom of the cup citation needed During the brewing process the leaves start to release adenine and guanine into the water which does not happen during traditional tea making citation needed Sugar is sometimes added the nature of the brew tends to result in a bitter flavor 2 It is to be carefully sipped otherwise it may cause vomiting citation needed Ultimately making chifir involves brewing a great deal of black tea and for a long time It may be left to brew overnight and drunk either hot or cold In popular culture editIrina Ratushinskaya describes the brewing of narcotically strong chifir as a banned activity sometimes undertaken by prisoners in her memoir of her years as a political prisoner Grey Is The Colour Of Hope In Vasily Aksyonov s novel Ozhog The Burn the convict Shilo makes chifir in a tushonka tin and gives it to Tolya von Steinbock Tolya falls into a blissful dreamlike state but is awake enough to overhear an escape plan being hatched In the Gabriele Salvatores directed film Deadly Code the character played by John Malkovich prepares and describes chifir to the young Kolyma In the novel Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith 1981 the main character Arkady Renko drinks chifir on a train with workers on their way to a work camp Several characters drink chifir in The Kolyma Tales a collection of short stories about Gulag life by former Gulag prisoner Varlam Shalamov In Jules Verne s novel In Search of the Castaways when the heroes visit Australia Paganel requests tea made according to local custom and is served a drink made by boiling half a pound of tea in a litre of water for four hours Shalamov mentions this in his aforementioned stories to demonstrate chifir is not a new invention In the book series Ciaphas Cain many characters drink a version of Chifir called Tanna See also editSa idi tea a somewhat similar beverage essentially a weaker grade but consumed in larger quantities drunk in Upper Egypt and among Sa idi people elsewhere Zavarka concentrated tea used in brewing tea from a SamovarReferences edit Chifir in Russian Chaj chifir kupec in Russian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chifir amp oldid 1207265286, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
