Adventures at The Jungle Jungle Jim's Blog

Diwali, or Deepavali, the Festival of Lights

Also called Deepavali or the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a 5-day holiday that is celebrated in India, Nepal, Singapore, and around the world! Diwali literally means “to light in a straight path or row” and is derived from the Sanskrit words “deepa,” meaning “to illuminate” and “aa-vali,” which means “in a row.” The name of the festival is quite literal, and this is evident in Diwali’s most famous and popular tradition, the lighting of lamps and candles.

Your Guide to the Regional Cuisines of India

Historians believe that people arrived in India over 55,000 years ago, making India one of the oldest human civilizations in the world. This long history, combined with the fact that India currently has a population of over 1.2 billion, means that India is home to a huge diversity of language, food, and culture! The various cuisines of India can be largely separated into four areas: North, South, East, and West. Keep reading to learn about the unique (and delicious!) foods from each of these regions!

Wine Department: Wine Passport October 2019

We get a lot of interesting questions during our wine tastings here at Jungle Jim’s and lately, because of the summer season, we have been tasting wines with high acidity levels, wines that are refreshing and invigorating, especially in the summer months. So, what is the function of acidity in wines, and how do you recognize and judge the levels of acidity?

A good way to think about acid is on a 0-10 scale with 0 = water and 10 = lemon juice.

Beer Department: 90+ Rated September 2019

Beer Department: Expert Picks October 2019

Beer Department: What is Wet Hopping?

In the modern proliferation of hazy, aroma driven New England Style IPAs, most people have become familiar with the term “dry-hopped.” Dry hopping simply means adding hops to a finished beer after fermentation finishes as a way to impart more aroma. You let the hops soak in the beer for a while, then remove them, and voila! You have a dry-hopped beer.

Confusingly enough, wet-hopping is not the opposite of dry-hopping. The two techniques are not even related,

All About Olives: 5 Facts About This Unique Fruit

Olives aren’t for everybody, but for those people that enjoy the intense saltiness and briny flavor of olives, there is no substitute. But, if you’re not an olive enthusiast, you may not know much about these little fruits. In fact, many people don’t even realize that olives are, indeed, a fruit! That’s why we’ve put together this list of 5 fun facts to teach you all about olives. Read on to become an all-around olive expert!

Mid-Autumn Festival

Traditionally observed at the end of the harvest season, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a Chinese holiday that is celebrated to honor the moon and the harvest. Also called the Harvest Moon Festival, the holiday is the second most important festival in China and is a time for family reunions. It’s been celebrated for over 1,000 years, though some believe it is as old as 3,000 years. Either way, it’s an ancient holiday that has been observed for countless generations and has great meaning to those who celebrate.

Smoked Seafood from Ducktrap River of Maine

Full of vitamins, minerals, and essential omega-3 fatty acids, seafood is a great source of protein! Many people enjoy including seafood in their diet, but it’s important to be aware of where your seafood comes from. How your seafood is farmed or caught can affect its nutritional value and, for that matter, can have an impact on the environment. Most of us want to know that we’re eating the highest quality, safe seafood, but it’s often difficult to puzzle out the path that your seafood has taken to get to your plate.

Beer Department: Expert Picks September 2019