As the debate over who invented the flat white rumbles on, it’s a good time to highlight that instant coffee was actually invented in Invercargill.
For over a decade a Japanese scientist was credited with the invention, but just recently it’s been revealed that Southland spice and coffee merchant David Strang was actually the first to develop a powdered form of coffee in the 1800s.
“His claim to fame is the invention of instant coffee, an invention he patented in 1890, and that’s the earliest recorded patent for instant coffee in the world,” says Tracey Wedge of Southland Museum.
But Mr Strang’s role in coffee history was basically forgotten, until memories were reignited a few years ago when the Historic Places Trust registered his son James’ house.
Since then the Southland Museum has built an exhibition around Strang memorabilia, including some very old tins of some of the first ever instant soluble powdered coffee.
“It revolutionised coffee consumption around the world. Instant coffee became a household product,” says Ms Wedge.
Mr Strang is believed to have invented the powder by blowing hot, dry air over liquid coffee until it reduced.
While he admits Mr Strang’s invention was ground-breaking, coffee connoisseur Arjun Haszard doubts it would have tasted any good.
“By using heat on that coffee you’d see a lot of flavour deterioration, a lot of over-extraction and very horrible flavours coming out,” says Mr Haszard.
But even so, Invercargill locals were surprised to hear their town had a new claim to fame.
“Wow, there you go, you learn something new every day, don’t you,” said one local.
“It’s very clever, isn’t it,” said another.
While Southlanders have produced a handful of inventions, instant coffee is the only one to have gone completely global.
3 News
source: http://www.3news.co.nz / 3 News / by Kloe Palmer, Reporter / Thursday – January 15th, 2015
Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace Museum is hosting a new exhibition, featuring the 500-year history of Turkish coffee. Organized in collaboration with the Turkish Coffee Culture and Research Association, the exhibition, titled “A Drop of Pleasure: 500 years of Turkish Coffee” opened on Feb. 17 at the museum’s Has Ahırlar section with the attendance of Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik.
Speaking at the ceremony, Çelik said Turkish coffee was an inevitable part of social life, not only of eating and drinking culture.
He said Turkish coffee culture dated back to the 16th century, and it had particular importance in the Ottoman Empire, both in the palace and daily life, as socio-cultural event.
“Beyond being a drink, coffee exists in the center of a big cultural structure. It also has a very important place in daily life. It used to be prepared and drank in coffee houses and movable coffee cookers. The coffee houses, where coffee culture had been surviving for hundreds of centuries, also hosted traditional Turkish arts such as shadow play, eulogy shows and theater-in-the-round,” the minister said, adding that coffee was born in Yemen and expanded west thanks to the Ottomans.
He said the Ottoman Empire, which was dominant on the trade routes between the east and west, spread coffee and helped it be loved by Europeans during diplomatic relations.
“For example, during his ambassadorship in Paris, humorist Süleyman Agha promoted coffee to French culture. When he was returning to the empire, his Armenian-origin assistant stayed in Paris and opened a coffee house. Another striking example is that after the Siege of Vienna in 1683, the first coffee houses were opened in Vienna with 500 sacks of coffee left by the Ottoman Empire. From then on, Europeans met real coffee culture,” Çelik said.
UNESCO added Turkish coffee and its tradition to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013. In this way, Çelik said for the first time the culture and tradition of a drink was added to that list.
Most comprehensive show on coffee
The exhibition “A Drop of Pleasure: 500 years of Turkish Coffee” consists of pieces from the Topkapı Palace Museum collections as well as the collections of many private museums and libraries. The show reveals the unique ceremony that Turkish coffee created in the Ottoman culture.
Curated by Ersu Pekin, the exhibition is the most comprehensive one related to coffee in Turkey and will be open through June 15.
Most of the pieces in the exhibition are being displayed for the first time. It brings together historical, cultural and social elements of coffee, its botanic features and cooking methods in the world between the 16th and 20th centuries.
source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com / Hurriyet Daily News / Home Page> Arts – Culture/Artss / Istanbul – Anadolu Agency / February 18th, 2015
Members of the Ambassador’s XI pose for a group photo after their title triumph. Photo – Supplied
Muscat:
Indian Ambassador XI and Team Coorg hogged the limelight at the eighth Republic Day of India Hockey Festival at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher.
The festival was organised by Team Coorg and Friends of Naqvi Group to mark the 60th year of Indo-Oman diplomatic relations and 66th Republic Day of India under the patronage of Indian Embassy and the Oman Hockey Association (OHA).
Indian Ambassador J.S. Mukul was the chief guest and OHA chairman Sheikh Mahfoodh Juma Al Juma was the guest of honour.
The festival was supported by Mohammed Rafiq & Partners LLC, Dr. Mujeeb Hussain (Amana Modern Medical Center), Sandeeep Gupta of Global Pioneer Solutions (GPS), Pocari Sweat (Muscat Pharmacy) and Quality Printing Press.
The matches were played in a festive atmosphere and hockey lovers and their families turned up in large numbers to witness the keenly fought matches.
In the first match, the Indian Ambassador XI met their match in the young Indian School Al Seeb and the full time score read 2-2. The Ambassador XI managed to retain the Ambassador Cup 2015 which they had won in 2014 also, prevailing by a 3-2 margin in thrilling penalty shootout.
In the second match, Team Coorg (Muscat) faced Beatrice Sports Club in an exciting tie for the Republic Day Cup 2015. Team Coorg met a strong challenge from Beatrice Sports Club and the final result of 3-2 in favour of the Team Coorg is an indicator of the closely contested match.
The proceedings commenced with a two minute silence in memory of the departed King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The choir from Indian School Al Seeb rendered the national anthems of Oman and India and were awarded with certificates signed by the Indian Ambassador.
A novel competition was organised on the occasion for young students and participants for correct recitation of the Indian National Anthem and all participants were awarded certificates by J.S. Mukul and Sheikh Mahfoodh Ali Juma Al Juma.
The organisers also came up with a unique gesture to honour several personalities for their contribution to promotion of hockey — Mustafa Lawati (former OHA general secretary), Mohammed Shambeh Al Raisi (former member of FIH Development Committee), Abdul Rehman (former national coach and international umpire), Belu Kuttappa (Manager, Team Coorg), Mohammed Osama Rawat (Festival Coordinator), Shakunthala Boppanna (athlete and national player) and Mohammed Irfan (Organizing Committee). Media personalities were also honoured.
Inayat Naqvi, former Bombay XI player and national umpire, was presented with a memento for his admirable services as the trustee of the NGO Abhi Foundation for supporting under privileged children and providing them with free kit for hockey, football and athletics and appointing trained coaches for them.
The Ambassador of India expressed his gratitude for celebrating Republic Day of India and congratulated all participants, spectators and sponsors. Sheikh Mahfoodh Ali Juma Al Juma also praised the organisation of the festival and congratulated the Indian Ambassador.
SAS Naqvi, former technical advisor of Oman Olympic Committee and now a sports consultant, proposed vote of thanks and acknowledged the support and services rendered by the sponsors, participants and media, while thanking the special guests
source: http://www.timesofoman.com / Times of Oman / Home> Sports / by Times News Service / January 27th, 2015
Seen are (from left) Parind Prabhudesai, Managing Director, Andreas STIHL Pvt. Ltd; Norbert Pick, Board Member and Head of Marketing and Sales, Andreas Stihl, Germany; Uday Shankar, Founder, Aqua Services and Ranjit Patil, Marketing Manager, Andreas STIHL Pvt. Ltd., during their visit to Gonikoppal, Kodagu, on Jan. 13.
Gonikoppal (Kodagu) :
“Stihl is bringing advanced technology to users in India, helping them to be more productive and cost effective. Our products offer state-of-the-art features that help customers be more productive and cost effective,’’ said Norbert Pick, Board Member and Head of Marketing and Sales, Andreas Stihl, Germany, during an interaction with planters and farming fraternity at Kodagu on Jan. 13.
Andreas Stihl is a world leader in chainsaws and other hand-held power tools and Andreas Stihl Pvt. Ltd., is a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Andreas Stihl, AG & CO KG, Germany.
Stihl is powered with a culture of innovation over the decades that has inspired over 2,000 patents. The products are innovative in design with low weight minimising the burden for user and the environment. A variety of equipment for all purposes come in various power outputs of 1.3 KW to 6.4KW.
Quoting Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman, Advisory Board, on the company’s philosophy on quality, Pick said, “We are excellently positioned with our wide-range of products. We have substantially invested in Research and Development (R&D) with the focus on growth in production and distribution. We are keen on long term and organic worldwide growth.”
“India is a growing priority market for the Andreas Stihl group and we want to develop this market with our varied product offerings. The Indian subsidiary has been growing over 25 per cent consistently for the past five years,” Pick said.
“We at STIHL believe in listening to the market and today’s meet is one such initiative where we will take feedback from the end users to our R&D department for product improvement. India is very important growth market for the STIHL group and management is committed to invest more in terms of presence, service and new products into this market,’’ said Parind Prabhudesai, Managing Director, Andreas STIHL Pvt. Ltd.
Uday Shankar, Founder, Aqua Services, has been dealing with Stihl from 2002 even before the company started its India operations. Speaking about Stihl products, he said the products are extensively used in the region for agriculture, horticulture, plantation, nurseries and landscaping. Aqua Services has dealerships in Gonikoppal and Mysuru.
In India, Stihl offers many outdoor power tools. Among them are chainsaw, pole pruners, brush cutters, clearing saws, mist blower and hedge trimmers.
Many of these products are eligible for government subsidy in Karnataka.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Sunday, January 18th, 2015
Kodagu has bagged the title of “Favourite Emerging Destination” in India at the Readers’ Travel Awards event in New Delhi on Tuesday
The award was presented to G Sathyavathi, Director, Department of Tourism, Karnataka by Divia Thani, Editor of Conde Nast Traveller magazine, Lalit K Pawar, Secretary, India Tourism and Nicholas Coleridge, President, Conde Nast International.
Kodagu has been the most popular hill station in south India for many years, said Minister for Tourism R V Deshpande. “Locals have made the experience more interesting by offering excellent cultural, culinary and nature-engaging experiences that attract tourists again and again,” he added.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / DHNS – Bengaluru, November 27th, 2014
With its postcard-perfect settings, pleasant climes and green environs, Kodagu is a dream destination for holiday goers. No wonder then that the ‘Scotland of India’ is seeing an influx of visitors. While the average number of tourists hovers around 25 lakh a year, this year may spring a surprise. “The number may cross 35 lakh,” says V Paneesh, assistant director of the tourism department.
The department itself is taken aback at this unprecedented footfall and interest in the hilly district. For, the infrastructural facilities in Kodagu provided by the government are no match for the flood of tourists. But the growing number of home stays set up by locals has somewhat offset the government’s apathy. While 249 home stays are registered, a recent drive by the administration to persuade more home stay owners to legalize their business has upped the number to 477. In addition, there are more than unregistered 1,500 home stays doing brisk business. Vinitha Karumbaiah, secretary of the Kodagu Home Stay Association, said this year saw heavy tourist rush during October.
While tourists rave about the scenic splendours of Kodagu, they wish more attention is paid to infrastructure too. Home stays should be regulated to avoid exploitation of visitors, says Pallavi Abhishek Majumdar, a tourist from north India staying in a Madikeri home stay. Regular buses should be arranged for tourists with guides to visit the spots, she adds.
KSTDC MD P S Harsha says the department has commenced trial bus trips from Madikeri to Abby Falls and Talacauvery and assured to introduce more buses to other tourist spots depending on the demand.
Why kodagu beckons?
What makes Kodagu attractive for tourists is that it has something for everyone, be it adventure tourism, temples, historical places or wildlife parks. Some of the popular spots include Talacauvery, Bhagamandala, Abbey Falls, Madikeri fort, Raja’s Seat, Omkareshwara temple, Nalaknad fort and Chelavara Falls near Napoklu, Dubare elephant camp and river rafting centre, Nisargadhama, golden temple at the nearby Tibetan settlement, Irpu Falls and Nagarhole National Park in South Kodagu, Mallalli Falls and Pushpagiri hills in Somwarpet taluk.
Tourists set to multiply
Tourist inflow to Kodagu is bound to multiply in the coming years for various reasons. As it shares the border with Kerala and is landlocked by coastal Dakshina Kannada district and Hassan and Mysuru cities, it’s a hop-over destination for many. That other historic and tourist-driven cities like Mysuru and Hassan are within reach makes it even attractive.
The commissioning of international airport in Kerala’s Kannur, 95 km from Madikeri, is also expected to boost tourism here. “Once this airport gets commissioned in mid 2016, tourist numbers will rise drastically,” says Paneesh, adding that tourists who fly in now have to come via Bengaluru or Mangaluru, which are far from Kodagu.
However, tour organizers and home stay owners feel the department should work out a comprehensive plan to manage the crowd of visitors as they foresee problems in waste disposal, transport and infrastructure apart from civic and administrative hassles. They also want the government to encourage resorts and home stays and ease laws to cope with the increasing tourist inflow.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mysuru / TNN / November 29th, 2014
DJ and MTV VJ Nikhil Chinappa recently invited Jay Sean to India, specially to work on the new mix under his company Submerge Music. Chinappa and Jay are working on remixing the track “Aashiq Mizaaj” from Lisa Haydon, Akshay Kumar-starrer film “The Shaukeens.”
The original track “Ashiq Mizaj” has been composed by Hard Kaur and sung by Aman Trikha. Nikhil, who is a fan of Kaur’s work wanted to remix the number ever since he heard it for the first time.
We hear that he picked Jay Sean because of the unique spin he adds to desi tracks. He wants it to be a tribute to the singer.
Apparently, Jay too has loved the song so much that he has been listening to it on loop. He even called her up to congratulate her on track.
Chinappa plans to add his own twist to the track, and hopes that Hard Kaur will love it. Let’s see whether the remix ups the energy of the original song.
source: http://www.indiawest.com / India West / Home> News> Entertainment / by Suparna Thombare, India West Staff / November 06th, 2014
Most people who think of crops think of corn, beans and wheat, but coffee is also one to consider.
For many of us, it’s the fuel that gets us out of bed and through the day. But as a new exhibit at a Florida museum shows, coffee has fueled history.
From straight black to cream and sugar, there are plenty of ways to have your coffee, and people have been doing brewing it for centuries. “There’s a whole history of it being a very influential aspect of the world,” said Matthew Woodside, chief curator of the South Florida Museum.
As Woodside tells it, the story of coffee is a long one and has a far reaching in scope. “It gave rise to the exploration and the colonization of all parts of the world, and even today, it’s second only to oil in its impact on the global economy,” he said.
Coffee has a rich history still celebrated with the coffee-making process in Ethiopia. “Its very ceremonial, very spiritual. It’s a little different than the way we go about it of putting some grounds in Mr. Coffee,” said Woodside.
Bruce Blowers visited the exhibit to see reminders of the 37 years he spent in Papua New Guinea, where java beans drive the highlands economy. “They saw that it was a viable crop, and so it just spread all around the islands,” said Blowers.
No matter how you drink it, the next you pour a cup of coffee, remember the whole world is in your cup.
Even though this exhibit is in Florida, Washington State actually has the most Starbucks stores per capita.
Watch this report on the Rural Evening News Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET
Prices steam up on fears over the LatAm country’s crop; planters here expand acreage
Chennai :
Your favourite cup of filter coffee or latte or cappuccino is set to get costlier as domestic bean prices have surged to record highs. This follows a rally in the global market on the back of the Brazilian crop running into problems due to dry weather.
Corporates owning coffee estates such as Tata Coffee and Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company – which runs Café Coffee Day – could gain as a result. Nestle and Hindustan Unilever, which source coffee, could be shelling out more for their products.
Record prices
Currently, farm gate prices of Arabica parchment are quoting at a record of over ₹12,000 for a 50-kg bag, while robusta parchment is ruling near ₹8,000.
Robusta cherry is being quoted around ₹3,750 per 50-kg bag. Robusta cherry accounts for over 40 per cent of coffee exports totalling three lakh tonnes in the last couple of years.
Brazilian output
“We are looking at a scenario which we last saw in 1977 when a disastrous frost affected the crop in Brazil. Dry weather earlier this year affected coffee production in Brazil. The crop this year has been estimated at 40.1 million bags (60 kg each). Now, Met forecasts of the crop’s blossom shower being delayed have fired up the market,” said Anil K Bhandari, a planter and former president of United Planters’ Association of Southern India.
Rains are crucial during September-October for the Brazilian coffee crop. But forecasts say that no showers are likely till the end of the month. This means, the already stressed coffee plants could be weakened further and production could be hit next year too, said Bhandari.
Coffee trade across the globe now fears that next year’s crop could be lower than 40 million bags. This has resulted in prices surging to near 30-month high of $2.20 a pound. On Thursday, coffee on ICE US for delivery in December ruled at $2.175 a pound.
“Domestic prices are high in line with global prices. Availability is low since we are at the fag end of the season,” said Ramesh Rajah, President of Coffee Exporters’ Association.
“But, there are no buyers in view of the high prices,” said Bose Mandanna, a grower from Kodagu and former Vice-Chairman of the Coffee Board.
“Since the market is volatile, buyers are staying away. They don’t want to take risk. Once the market stabilises, they will return. Also, coffee prices cannot continue rising and lose consumers,” said Bhandari.
Few deals have been signed for the new crop, said Rajah. “Not much business has been done for the new crop in view of the problems we faced with the crop last year,” he said.
Domestic crop situation
Last year, the Coffee Board had initially projected production of 3.47 lakh tonnes but finally, it turned out to be 3.04 lakh tonnes as the crop was affected by unseasonal rains.
“Indian Arabica is expensive in the global market as also the Robusta. But when Brazil is short, there will be demand for the Indian produce,” said Rajah.
“Coffee export value can increase this year in view of the high prices,” said Bhandari, adding that the key was the new crop that is shaping up well.
“Arabica has suffered loss due to the borer menace but Robusta has shaped up well,” said Bhandari.
“Harvest has begun in Tamil Nadu and in Karnataka, it will start next month,” said Mandanna. “The crop is much better than last year. Robusta will be 10-15 per cent higher, while Arabica has been affected by the white stem borer,” he said.
Rajah said coffee production this year will be in line with the Board’s projection. According to the Coffee Board’s post-blossom estimates, production this year could be a record 3.44 lakh tonnes with Robusta making up 2.39 lakh tonnes and Arabica the rest.
Area expands
Higher prices this year and forecast of the rally continuing next year have resulted in growers expanding the area under coffee.
According to sources, nurseries have run out of coffee plants in view of demand.
“Coffee is being planted on large plantations where the borer menace has resulted in lot of vacant space being available. Some growers are shifting to coffee from crops such as cardamom,” said Mandanna.
Sources said coffee plantations in Karnataka are now extending to plains such as Piriyapatna in Mysore.
“We will have to see how far it can be sustained. Such a development took place in 1977 also,” said Bhandari. “The problem is coffee will take time to give returns. People should be able to sustain till then,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Agri-Biz / MR Subramani / Chennai – October 09th, 2014
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