Darjeeling: A History of the World's Greatest Tea

Description

Winner of the 2016 IACP Award: Literary Food Writing Set against the backdrop of the looming Himalayas and drenching monsoons, this is the story of how Darjeeling developed its tea industry under Imperial British rule and eventually came to produce the world's finest leaves. But today the industry is battling dropping production ,a violent struggle for independent statehood, labour unrest and the devastating effect of climate change. It's the story, too, of the measures being taken to counter these challenges and save India's most exclusive and iconic brew that are nothing short of radical. A fascinating portrait of the region and a story rich in intrigue and empire, full of adventurers and romance, it illuminates the historic, arcane and changing world of this celebrated tea.

Jeff Koehler is an American writer, photographer, traveller and cook, and author of books and articles on food and culture including Spain: Recipes and Traditions, named one of 2013's top cookbooks by the New York Times; Morocco: A Culinary Journey with Recipes; and La Paella: Deliciously Authentic Rice Dishes from Spain's Mediterranean Coast. His work has appeared in Saveur, Food & Wine, NPR.org, NationalGeographic.com, the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Afar, Tin House and Best Food Writing 2010. After doing post-graduate work at King's College London, he moved to Barcelona, where he has lived since 1996. jeff-koehler.com @koehlercooks

It is not just about Darjeeling, though; and not even just about tea. It is also about the history of colonial and post-colonial India ... As for the rest, it is a book teeming with characters and interest. Koehler, described as "writer, photographer, traveller and cook", has the polymath's curiosity for everything, as well as the writer's ability to listen to and retell a good story ... A richly digressive book -- Nicholas Lezard * Guardian * We live in an age when it has become important to celebrate those few really fine things that are made with care and to document their struggle to survive - never done better than in Jeff Koehler's passionate study of Darjeeling tea. It makes you want to sip a perfectly brewed cup and so makes your life better * Mark Kurlansky, author of Cod, Salt and The Big Oyster * This exhaustively researched and eminently readable book will delight foodies, history buffs and armchair travelers alike * Seattle Times * The author's friendly writing style and obvious passion for the subject makes the book an entertaining read * Library Journal * When he writes about the tea itself ... how the pickers skillfully pluck the leaves and toss them into a basket, how the tea smells as it's being dried, the daily taste tests at each estate - his prose is both sensory and balletic * Chicago Tribune * Koehler has the knack of a good storyteller who has found a great story to tell * South China Morning Post * The history of this elixir turns out to be fascinating * Geographical * The perfect present for a tea toper * Oldie * The story of Darjeeling is a romance, rich in history, intrigue and tales of empire, and Koehler tells it with tremendous flourish -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *