Kashmiri samovars are made of copper with engraved or embossed calligraphic motifs. Antique samovars are often prized for their beautiful workmanship. The brass samovars were nickel-plated inside. In Azerbaijan, people boil water in heated metal containers known as samovars. Today samovars are popular souvenirs among tourists in Russia. By the 19th century samovars were already a common feature of Russian tea culture. In everyday use samovars were an economical permanent source of hot water in older times. Often, this tea is served in large samovars.