Tea that restores hunters' strength: Khanty and Mansi traditions presented at the National Centre RUSSIA in Yugra
Ancient tea traditions of the Khanty and Mansi peoples were showcased to guests of the festival at the National Centre RUSSIA in Yugra. Staff from the "Torum Maa" open-air ethnographic museum held a tasting of herbal blends and introduced visitors to the rituals of northern tea drinking.
"The traditional drink of the Khanty and Mansi is prepared using boiling water with the addition of fireweed, lingonberry leaf, rosehip, and wild rosemary. Cloudberries or blueberries are added to the infusion. A bag of meadowsweet used to be exchanged for a reindeer because it does not grow where herds graze — meadowsweet is gathered in July along small forest rivulets. This is a tea for all ailments; it helps one recover after a difficult journey or a long winter," said Yelena Fedotova, Director of the museum.
Guests tasted authentic drinks and learned about their significance in the daily lives of the indigenous peoples of Yugra. Among them was an infusion of cloudberry leaves, reminiscent of summer and childhood. The raw materials were gathered in July and then dried. During the long cold periods, such tea restored strength and, according to legend, even helped lost reindeer herders find their way home.
Among the Khanty and Mansi, the birch is considered a sacred tree, and its gifts are used with care and respect. These include chaga, a fungus known as the "birch beard". Chaga is valued for its medicinal properties: indigenous peoples believe that the drink cleanses and heals the body.
The festive programme for the Day of Indigenous Small-Numbered Peoples of the Russian Federation gathered guests from across the region and showcased the richness of Khanty and Mansi traditions, including their unique tea culture.
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