We’re delighted to announce that our documentary film The Tea Explorer film is getting an additional airing on Sunday Sept, 10th at 9 pm ET/10 PT on CBC’s Doc Channel in Canada. Best taken with a cup of leaves and water in close proximity to the hand. I’ve been hearing from people in the US about the film being shown on AWE tv as well.
Below a couple of the inspiring characters when telling the story of the Tea Horse Road.
Mother of Ajo of Litang and known to many as simply as ‘Ama’ (mother)…it was her fiercely potent churned butter teas (and tales) that helped to inspire a journey along the great Himalayan tea routes.
Upon that clay stove out of the winds in a yak tent, many a churned tea offerings were sipped. That wonderful woman prepared teas with a particular zest that fuelled many a journey for me.
We’ve been excited that many who’ve written us have expressed their joy at the story-telling, adventure aspect of the film and how that old ‘art’ of listening and passing on tales is emphasized. Tea’s ‘adventure’ and its journeys are the stuff of odysseys and the human touch along those journeys was vital. That seems to be coming through in the film and we are stoked.
The irrepressible Konga, trader of Lo Manthang in northern Mustang…a legend in the true sense of the word and a huge part of our film. During an interview I sit next to him as he waxes about the days of trade and of tea…I could listen for weeks to his tales and memories.
Let us know if you’ve seen the film and your thoughts. We’ll continue to update as the film travels, and expands its viewing options. It goes without say that we’re thankful of the support (silent and otherwise) that the film has received. Much much more to come.
About JeffFuchs
Bio
Having lived for most of the past decade in Asia, Fuchs’ work has centered on indigenous mountain cultures, oral histories with an obsessive interest in tea. His photos and stories have appeared on three continents in award-winning publications Kyoto Journal, TRVL, and Outpost Magazine, as well as The Spanish Expedition Society, The Earth, Silkroad Foundation, The China Post Newspaper, The Toronto Star, The South China Morning Post and Traveler amongst others. Various pieces of his work are part of private collections in Europe, North America and Asia and he serves as the Asian Editor at Large for Canada’s award-winning Outpost magazine.
Fuchs is the Wild China Explorer of the Year for 2011 for sustainable exploration of the Himalayan Trade Routes. He recently completed a month long expedition a previously undocumented ancient nomadic salt route at 4,000 metres becoming the first westerner to travel the Tsa’lam ‘salt road’ through Qinghai.
Fuchs has written on indigenous perspectives for UNESCO, and has having consulted for National Geographic. Fuchs is a member of the fabled Explorers Club, which supports sustainable exploration and research.
Jeff has worked with schools and universities, giving talks on both the importance of oral traditions, tea and mountain cultures. He has spoken to the prestigious Spanish Geographic Society in Madrid on culture and trade through the Himalayas and his sold out talk at the Museum of Nature in Canada focused on the enduring importance of oral narratives and the Himalayan trade routes.
His recently released book ‘The Ancient Tea Horse Road’ (Penguin-Viking Publishers) details his 8-month groundbreaking journey traveling and chronicling one of the world’s great trade routes, The Tea Horse Road. Fuchs is the first westerner to have completed the entire route stretching almost six thousand kilometers through the Himalayas a dozen cultures.
He makes his home in ‘Shangrila’, northwestern Yunnan upon the eastern extension of the Himalayan range where tea and mountains abound; and where he leads expeditions the award winning ‘Tea Horse Road Journey’ with Wild China along portions of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.
To keep fueled up for life Fuchs co-founded JalamTeas which keeps him deep in the green while high in the hills.
I watched this remarkable documentary on AWE channel. It was so well done, riveting, informational.
Thank you!
Great pleasure and thanks for the words.
Jeff