Delve into the enchanting world of the Pacific Island plant with "The Art of Kava: Pacific's Gift to the World." This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the mythical Kava plant, revered for its cultural, culinary, and medicinal attributes. It lovingly pays homage to the rich history and cultural relevance of Kava while presenting an insightful guide to its modern usage and global impact.Starting off with an introduction and historical overview of Kava, the book explores its botanical life, including its biology, cultivation, and varying plant species. It proceeds to dissect its active components like Kavalactones and other phytochemical constituencies, giving an in-depth understanding of what makes Kava unique.Get enlightened about traditional and modern techniques of harvesting and processing Kava and immerse yourself in the cultural uses of this magical plant across Pacific Island traditions and global cultural spaces. Delve into its traditional medicinal applications and the potential health risks associated with Kava and safe consumption methods."The Art of Kava: Pacific's Gift to the World" paints a vivid picture of the Kava experience, from the ceremonial rituals to personal tales of the Kava experience. It also discusses the role of Kava in mental health treatment, stress relief, and relaxation. Understand the legal, trade, and societal aspects of Kava through discussions on international regulations, market analytics, global usage, and its depiction in media, literature, and art.Discover the rich gastronomic potential of this Pacifico-Asiatic plant with traditional Kava recipes and inventive gastronomic experiments. Brewing the perfect bowl of Kava won't be a riddle anymore with traditional brewing methods and tips shared for an optimal effect.Finally, hear from the subject matter experts with the latest medical research on Kava interspersed with a look towards the future scope of studies regarding its place in global wellness. Through its extensive narrative, this book advocates Kava's inevitable role in holistic health and consumer behaviors.Unearth the mysteries of Kava, the Pacific's gift to the world with this book. Both informative and inspiring, this book is perfect for botanists, historians, culinary enthusiasts or anybody with a thirst for knowledge about global cultural phenomena.

This complete guide to kava describes its centuries-long use in the religious, political, and economic life of the Pacific islands and summarizes the literature and research on a plant that is now considered a comparable or superior alternative to anti-stress prescription drugs.

Tongan art, with its elegant sculpture, headrests, body adornment, clubs, containers, tools and fibre work, has made an outstanding contribution to the culture of Oceania. In The Art of Tonga, Keith St. Cartmail's achievement is to draw together all the strands of this island kingdom's material culture into a single volume--surprisingly no other work has done this to date. The author begins by outlining the history of Tonga, then comprehensively details all aspects of Tongan art, ancient and modern. He clearly documents the significance and widespread influence of this beautiful art work through West Polynesia, and argues that despite recent neglect, and in spite of being mutilated and destroyed by missionaries, and dispersed by collectors to all corners of the earth, Tongan art is nonetheless alive and well. Authoritative and accessible, The Art of Tonga is lavishly illustrated with superb and important examples of Tongan art from throughout its history. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the magnificent cultures of Oceania.

"The bible for the D.I.Y set: detailed instructions for how to make your own sauerkraut, beer, yogurt and pretty much everything involving microorganisms."--The New York Times *Named a "Best Gift for Gardeners" by New York Magazine The original guide to kraut, kombucha, kimchi, kefir, and kvass; mead, wine, and cider; pickles and relishes; tempeh, koji, miso, sourdough and so much more...! Winner of the James Beard Foundation Book Award for Reference and Scholarship, and a New York Times bestseller, with more than a quarter million copies sold, The Art of Fermentation is the most comprehensive guide to do-it-yourself home fermentation ever published. Sandor Katz presents the concepts and processes behind fermentation in ways that are simple enough to guide a reader through their first experience making sauerkraut or yogurt, and in-depth enough to provide greater understanding and insight for experienced practitioners. While Katz expertly contextualizes fermentation in terms of biological and cultural evolution, health and nutrition, and even economics, this is primarily a compendium of practical information—how the processes work; parameters for safety; techniques for effective preservation; troubleshooting; and more. With two-color illustrations and extended resources, this book provides essential wisdom for cooks, homesteaders, farmers, gleaners, foragers, and food lovers of any kind who want to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for arguably the oldest form of food preservation, and part of the roots of culture itself. Readers will find detailed information on fermenting vegetables; sugars into alcohol (meads, wines, and ciders); sour tonic beverages; milk; grains and starchy tubers; beers (and other grain-based alcoholic beverages); beans; seeds; nuts; fish; meat; and eggs, as well as growing mold cultures, using fermentation in agriculture, art, and energy production, and considerations for commercial enterprises. Sandor Katz has introduced what will undoubtedly remain a classic in food literature, and is the first—and only—of its kind.

photography book

Plunge back into the thrilling world of profiler Maggie O’Dell in book 5 of this acclaimed series from New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava. When a monsignor is found knifed to death in a Nebraska airport restroom, FBI special agent Maggie O’Dell is called in to profile the ritualistic murder of a priest, the latest in a series of killings. Maggie soon discovers a disturbing Internet game that’s popular among victims of abuse by Catholic priests. With this first real lead in the investigation, she wonders if the group has turned cyberspace justice into reality. Then Maggie gets a second lead—one that leaves her stunned. For the past four years she has been obsessed with finding Father Michael Keller, whose brutal acts against children continue to haunt her. Now, it seems, he has become a target. When Keller offers to help Maggie solve the ritual killings in exchange for protection, she decides to ally herself with the elusive child killer, stepping into a world of malevolence from which she may not return unscathed. Maggie knows the bargain is a necessary evil…one that may be made in blood… Originally published in 2006

With more than one hundred illustrations--most in full color--this volume offers a stimulating and insightful account of two dynamic artistic cultures, traditions that have had a considerable impact on modern western art through the influence of artists such as Gauguin. After an introduction to Polynesian and Micronesian art separately, the book focuses on the artistic types, styles, and concepts shared by the two island groups, thereby placing each in its wider cultural context. From the textiles of Tonga to the canoes of Tahiti, Adrienne Kaeppler sheds light on religious and sacred rituals and objects, carving, architecture, tattooing, and much more.