Trans‑Urals: Where Tea Tells a Story
The 5th Winter Festival “Trans‑Urals Tea” brought warmth to the Kurgan Region. Uzvar, sbiten, and herbal brews — these are what the participants treated the guests, competing in the art of making warming drinks. However, the recipe for success was simple: the less actual tea in the jury’s tasting cups and the more local natural ingredients, the higher the chances of winning the contest!
Final Preparations
Once a year, the Kargapolye Landscape Park is decorated with themed installations
The compact stage area gives all participants a clear view of the performers
The contest features 44 varieties of aromatic herbal teas
Teams from across the Kurgan Region are firing up their samovars
They’re getting ready to welcome guests with pies and other treats
The festival’s signature symbol appears on every table
Women from Borovlyanka village (Belozersky District) are attending the festival for the first time
One of their secrets: pine cones used as kindling
Plenty of smoke today — tea-making requires it!
Treats are offered to everyone who wants to taste them
Homemade baked goods have their own contest category
There’s so much to share — the spirit of generosity is strong
Drinks from Barino village: “Taiga Blend,” “Strength of Siberia,” and “Garnet Bracelet”
An expert could talk about each blend for hours
Tatar culture is showcased through both food and music
Opening Ceremony
The concert program begins
It is opened by vocalists from Kargapolye
The audience watches the events with interest
District head Evgeny Lenkov greets the locals and tourists: “This event opens the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia”
He is joined by Dmitry Osetrov, head of the Kurgan branch of Gazprom, the festival’s sponsor
Ilya Nikolaev, chair of the regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society, thanks the co‑organizers and the attendees
Songs will sound all day, with many performances reflecting the festival’s theme
At −7°C, being outdoors feels especially comfortable
The folklore group “Sudarushka” knows how to capture the audience’s attention
The giant mock teacup encourages visitors to walk around all the stalls and try every tea
After all: will there be another opportunity like this one?
But it’s not easy to choose between tasting teas and enjoying the playful ditties
And the heartfelt lyrical songs make people linger by the stage
Natalya Ogluzdina represents the Barinovo Rural Cultural Center with dignity
The audience readily rewards the amateur performers with applause
Tea and Baking Contest
Now it’s time to start a gastronomic journey across the square
Each contest station has its own unique decoration and special touch
The participants eagerly try on fairy‑tale looks and proudly share their drink recipes
The Shadrinsk District showcases incredibly beautiful confectionery items
Nearby, on the table, is handmade marshmallow by Nuriya Eremina from Maslyanskoye village
Soon the friends will learn they’ve been named the best in the “Most Delicious Tea” category
Dmitry Osetrov is a welcome guest at the stalls — Gazprom’s support for the festival is invaluable
Only one spot offers a taste of classic ivan‑tea
The women from Chashi village look calm, but they’re a little nervous — the jury is heading their way
The drink presentation kicks off with energy
The teapots are covered with delicate “caps” that keep the warmth and the mystery
Every detail matters — temperature, color, and aroma
Tasting engages all the senses
It’s a big deal to impress the restaurant chef
The drinks have been rated, and now it’s time to keep enjoying the festival atmosphere
The jury’s next tasty stop is Ilyinskoye village (Kataysk District)
The cheerful mood of the tea fairies instantly spreads to the tasters
This is how one take part in the special “Secret Ingredient” category
Trying all 44 tea varieties means drinking several liters
It’s important to stay impartial, catch the subtlest nuances, and record them accurately
After all, every hostess hopes to make an impression and be remembered
Another team skipped traditional cultural imagery for their presentation
Staff from the Osinovsky Rural Cultural Center drew parallels between the World War II and the Special Military Operation started in 2022
The whole village helped create the soldiers’ tea — neighbors brought their best herbs
The collective effort delivered the desired effect
As we can see, the Osinovo team managed to surprise the jury
Let’s remember the hostesses of the stylized dugout — we’ll meet them again soon
Festival areas keep running
Many stalls sell souvenirs, like handmade dolls by Nadezhda Nesterskaya
Fairy‑tale art installations also draw visitors’ attention
Main Stage
Who do you think these dancing girls in voluminous skirts are?
One of them is taking part in the “Tea Cosy Costume” contest
To see all the themed outfits, one shall visit the awards ceremony
The stage never stays empty: fast simple contests are held between creative performances
Here, participants have to identify the drink by its aroma
They must choose between black tea, green tea, and hibiscus (carcade)
The contestant with the sharpest sense of smell receives a well‑deserved prize
The concert continues
Nadezhda Nesterskaya, the artist known for her delicate handmade dolls, sings about Mother Russia
Performers and tourists cheer the acts on, dancing right there on the square
Svetlana Skaredina feels truly inspired by this lively audience response
The 21st century simply demands that we capture life’s important moments
A lovely day and music that speaks to the soul — what more do we need for a perfect weekend?
Elena Izmaylova from Dalmatovsky District chose an incredibly upbeat song…
…and she won over everyone in the audience
The vocal group “8 March” from Tamakulsky Cultural Center performs in perfect harmony
These applause are for everyone who helped to create this festive atmosphere
Even as the stalls empty out, the good mood lingers
Natalya Yurkina and Svetlana Kozhevnikova believe that “Happiness Loves Silence”
Yet the title is deceptive: their act is loud and full of emotion
That’s exactly how the concert program of folk festivities should end
Awards Ceremony
The festival is truly coming to a close: it’s time to present awards to the best
All the audience choice awards belong to Kargapolsky District — the host of the event
Still, even a participant diploma will be a valuable addition to a cultural center’s portfolio
The Grand Prix goes to the tea from Osinovsky Rural Cultural Center
Its head, Tatyana Koryukina, happily accepts the congratulations
The recognition comes with an impressively large samovar
All that’s left is to hand out the last treats…
…and to take memorable team photos
“Trans‑Urals Tea” will continue to strengthen the region’s brand and its traditions of hospitality
