Makaibari Tea Estate

A place where one of the world's most expensive teas, Silver Tips Imperial, is plucked under the full moon

by Kelly Phillips Badal At Makaibari Tea Estate in West Bengal, India, the fourth generational owner Swaraj “Rajah” Banerjee instructs, “Sip, swish, inhale sharply, then spit,” proving tea tastings are undertaken with the same solemnity and ceremony as sampling fine wine. Not only is the act similar, but in some cases, the prices are comparable too, with one particular custom brew—Silver Tips Imperial, the plantation’s …

Raymond Pettibon: Are Your Motives Pure?

Words and art combine to make up this bold, surf-centric exhibition

by Charlotte Anderson With characters and landscapes composed in stark ink, self-trained artist Raymond Pettibon‘s style is a melding of images and text––reminiscent of William Blake’s illustrated poems––wryly focusing in on motifs of American life, literature, comics, art, religion and pop culture. Tucson-born, now NYC-based, Pettibon is known not only as an artist, but also as the former bass player for Black Flag. His work …

Five Creative Cookbooks

More than just recipes, these tomes offer stories, fun and inspiration for readers looking to get into the kitchen

Cookbooks (like their literary counterparts) tell a story; years of experience and wisdom are offered as the author guides readers through unusual pairings, a surprising use of a fresh herb, a favorite wine and more. Recipes stand as guidelines, meant to be experimented with and customized to one’s preference, and ultimately, cookbooks remind us that food is an experience; from gathering the ingredients to preparing, …