During this pre-monsoon heat, I have been cooling off with fresh apple juice. It doubled in price since I started travelling in India – but at Rs40 per large bottle, it´s still good value an en excellent alternative to water or fizzy drinks.
Over the last year I have come to develop a degree of patriotism to Himachal Pradesh, the national state of Dharamsala (and also Manali, Shimla, Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur). The state prides itself on the growth of temperate fruit. It is said that 50% of all Himachal Pradeshans are involved directly or indirectly with the apple industry. Yet the history of the apple is a relatively short one.
Samuel Stokes was an American who arrived in India in 1906. He purchased an estate in Thanedar, just outside Shimla, and in 1919 he put an order for apple saplings. As the orchard prospered, Stokes gave apple saplings to poor farmers in the area. Farmers in the state have never looked back.
Plum and litchi juice are also available.
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