Jürgen Wasim Frembgen – författare

Distilling nearly forty years of experience drinking the second most consumed beverage in the world, Jürgen Wasim Frembgen's travelogue, A Thousand Cups of Tea, is a journey through the production, preparation, and consumption of tea from North Africa to South Asia. With deep insights into diverse habits, customs, preferences, and traditions surrounding this practise, the author delves into painting a cross-cultural panorama of a simple activity through detailed vignettes and historical anecdotes based on personal observations and thorough ethnographic research. Woven amongst a combination of both culinary and cultural literature, this simple, accessible knowledge allows the reader to explore the brewing herbs not only as a mixture of hot refreshment, but also as a social custom. This book is of interest to a diverse readership-ranging from anthropology students, casual readers, and tea connoisseurs. It is concurrently an important reference material and valuable addition to the literature on the anthropology of food.

This ethnographic study appreciates the cultural traditions of African-descended communities in the south of Pakistan and is a first endeavour to show that their history, society, religion and everyday practices can be a source of pride for them. Known as Shidis, 'black' Baloch and Khaskhelis, Afro-Pakistanis constitute a sizeable minority of around 300,000 souls living on the fringes of one of the world's most populous multi-ethnic countries - mostly impoverished, socially deprived, and politically disempowered. Their distinct traditions and practices, 'til now understudied, are shaped by the historical circumstances of trans-oceanic migration. Uprooted from their original homelands in East-, Northeast- and Central Africa, the descendants of former slaves, soldiers and seafarers, but also of free men and women, still preserve their African heritage which significantly contributes to the cultural kaleidoscope and spiritual wealth of Pakistan. Their 'voices', understood as reminiscences of distant African lands, are embodied in saints, spirits, songs and drums.

Cannabis ist eine der ältesten Nutzpflanzen mit sakralem Charakter. In Südasien und anderen Teilen des Orients bis nach Afrika gehört der Gebrauch von Hanfpräparaten in Rausch und Ritual sowie zu Heilzwecken seit jeher zur kulturellen Praxis. Der Umgang mit natürlichen psychoaktiven Substanzen ist daher anders als im Westen, der sich vieles bedenkenlos, ohne eigenen Erfahrungshintergrund von außerhalb aneignet in mystisch-religiöse Bezüge eingebettet und kulturell eingeübt.Vornehmlich in Indien und Pakistan, aber auch anderswo, wird Cannabis als Bhang getrunken, das je nach Dosierung eine vergleichsweise stärkere Wirkung entfaltet. Die vorliegende Studie widmet sich hanfkundlich ausschließlich der Applikationsart des Trinkens, die bisher kaum untersucht wurde.