DT 31379 (Full Review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31379

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 24^th October 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. An entertaining Saturday puzzle from Chris Lancaster that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.

The clue at 20 Down, with Arabica as its answer, was an interesting one. After solving the puzzle, I explored the internet to learn about the journey of Arabica from the Arabian Peninsula to other parts of the world and acquired a great deal of information about it. Arabica coffee, derived from the seeds of the Coffea arabica plant, is the world’s most celebrated coffee variety, accounting for approximately 60 per cent of global coffee production. Indigenous to the tropical highlands of Ethiopia, it originally grew wild beneath the canopy of ancient afromontane forests. During the fifteenth century, the plant was systematically cultivated and roasted in the terraced mountains of Yemen, where Sufi scholars helped establish the coffee-drinking traditions that eventually spread across the world. The Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus formally classified the species as Coffea arabica in the eighteenth century. For centuries, Arab traders controlled the coffee trade and restricted the export of fertile seeds. However, the plant gradually spread beyond the Arabian Peninsula. In the late seventeenth century, Baba Budan, an Indian Sufi pilgrim, is traditionally credited with bringing fertile coffee seeds from Yemen to the southwestern hills of India. Dutch traders also transported coffee plants to Java, Indonesia, establishing plantations that helped break the Middle Eastern monopoly. Subsequently, a coffee tree was presented to the French royal court, and a seedling was taken to Martinique in the Caribbean by French naval officer Gabriel de Clieu in the 1720s. These developments contributed to the expansion of coffee cultivation across Central and South America. In 1727, the Portuguese diplomat Francisco de Melo Palheta brought coffee seeds from French Guiana into Brazil, laying the foundations for Brazil’s extensive coffee industry. Today, Brazil is the world’s largest producer of Arabica coffee, followed by Colombia, which is renowned for its high-quality, carefully harvested beans. Other important producers include Honduras, Ethiopia, India and Indonesia. Although Ethiopia remains the ancestral homeland of Arabica, South America has become the principal centre of its commercial cultivation. Compared with Robusta, Arabica is a more delicate crop, requiring suitable climatic and geographical conditions. It thrives at high altitudes, generally between 1,000 and 2,000 metres above sea level, with moderate temperatures, adequate rainfall and rich, well-drained soil. Its relatively slow maturation allows the coffee cherries to develop complex flavours and aromas. Arabica coffee is prized for its refined sweetness, lively acidity and varied tasting notes, which may include citrus, floral jasmine, chocolate and dark berries. It also generally contains less caffeine than Robusta and is favoured by speciality coffee roasters and discerning coffee enthusiasts. From Ethiopia’s highlands to Brazil’s vast plantations, Arabica coffee represents a remarkable journey of cultivation, trade and cultural exchange. Its distinctive flavour, aromatic complexity and global popularity have secured its position as one of the world’s most highly valued coffee varieties.

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Across

1a           A wader’s swimming away from the shore (7)
SEAWARD: An anagram (swimming) of A WADERS guides to the definition of an adverb denoting away from the shore or land or directed or moving towards the sea

5a           Exercise that could make journalists cheerful (5-2)
PRESS-UP: The definition of an arm exercise performed lying face to the floor and pushing the body up and down with the arms is arrived at from a charade of PRESS (journalists) as newspapers or journalists viewed collectively and UP (cheerful) as an adjective meaning cheerful, optimistic or upbeat

9a           Piano covered by antique object, a copy (7)
REPLICA: P (piano) as the abbreviation for piano in a piece of music, denoting an instruction to play quietly placed inside or surrounded by (covered by) RELIC (antique object) as a noun denoting an object or custom that has survived from the past and followed by A from the clue takes to the definition of an exact copy or reproduction that is not the original

10a        Jumper I’m returning with hesitation is bigger (7)
ROOMIER: ROO (jumper) as an informal Australian term for kangaroo or a large Australian marsupial known for its great leaping power, an example of which is a jumper i.e. an animal that jumps followed by I’M coming from the other side (returning) as a reversal in the across clue and (with) ER (hesitation) as an interjection used to express hesitation leads to the definition of an adjective in the past tense denoting having more ample space i.e. bigger

11a        Money exposed row in restaurant (9)
BRASSERIE: BRASS (Money) as an informal term for money  followed by [S]ERIE[S] (row) as a Latin term denoting a row or a succession of things that is devoid of its outermost letters (exposed) leads to the definition of a restaurant serving alcoholic beverages, especially beer, as well as food

12a        Issue with voting system? Not at first (5)
ALLOT: The definition of a verb denoting to issue, distribute or assign share or space to someone is reached from [B]ALLOT (voting system) as a system of voting in secret by marking a paper and putting it into a box that has its first or initial letter removed (not at first)

13a        On the way back, strips drop off (5)
SLEEP: PEELS (strips) as a verb in the third person singular present tense denoting strips the skin or rind from something coming from the other side (On the way back) as a reversal in the across clue leads to the definition of a verb or noun denoting to drop off, slumber or fall asleep

15a        Laid up, ordered to swallow drug by doctor (9)
BEDRIDDEN: The definition of an adjective meaning confined to bed due to illness or injury or unable to leave the bed due to serious illness or old age is got from BIDDEN (ordered) as a verb in the past participle meaning ordered, commanded or instructed taking inside (to swallow) a combination of E (drug) as the abbreviation for Ecstasy that is a drug taken for stimulant and hallucinogenic properties and (by) as having alongside DD (doctor) as the abbreviation for the Latin phrase Divinitatis Doctor meaning Doctor of Divinity

17a        Release a Christmas novel, losing million (9)
CATHARSIS: The definition of a noun denoting a release or discharge of emotional tension, as after an overwhelming experience, that restores or refreshes the spirit is reached from an anagram (novel) of A CHRIST[M]AS omitting or not taking into account (losing) M (million) as the abbreviation for million

19a        Fine form (5)
CLASS: Double definition; the second being a noun meaning a form or a year in a British school and used especially with a number to refer to a particular class or age group that takes to the first an adjective denoting fine, superb or excellent

22a        A professional with new protective garment (5)
APRON: A from the clue followed by PRO (professional) as an abbreviation for professional, especially in sports and (with) N (new) as the abbreviation for new guides to the definition of a protective or sometimes decorative or ceremonial garment worn over the front of the body and tied around the waist

23a        Firm dates arranged at speed (9)
STEADFAST: The definition of an adjective meaning firm, resolute or unwavering is arrived at from an anagram (arranged) of DATES followed by FAST (at speed) an adjective meaning rapid or at full speed

25a        Empress giving artisan new order (7)
TSARINA: The definition of the wife of a Russian tsar or the Russian empress and regarded as first lady, similar to the wife of the President of the United States, is reached from an anagram (new order) of ARTISAN

26a        Sit with a man shaking legs (7)
STAMINA: An anagram (shaking) of a combination of SIT and (with) A MAN guides to the definition of the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort or endurance, an example of which is ‘legs’ i.e. the ability to last or sustain success, especially by appealing to an audience

27a         Vanity shown by fleece chair, reportedly (7)
CONCEIT: The definition of a noun denoting vanity or an excessively favourable opinion of one’s own ability, importance, wit etc is arrived at from CON (fleece) as to fleece, swindle or cheat someone by not return them enough money followed by a homophone heard by the audience (reportedly) of SEAT (chair) as a chair or bench that may be sat on

28a        Sailors surrounding area – fire rifle (7)
RANSACK: RN (Sailors) as the abbreviation for the Royal Navy or sailors going around (surrounding) A (area) as the abbreviation for area and followed by SACK (fire) as a colloquial verb meaning to dismiss or fire someone from a job that leads to the definition of a verb denoting to rifle or go through a place stealing valuables and causing damage and disarray

Down

1d           Son sheds tears about book’s writers (7)
SCRIBES: S (Son) as the genealogical abbreviation for son followed by CRIES (sheds tears) as a verb in the present tense third person singular form placed around (about) B (book) as the abbreviation for book leads to the definition of a plural noun denoting writers or authors, especially journalists

2d           Pacify primate that’s fed edible seeds(7)
APPEASE: The definition of a verb denoting to pacify, placate or satisfy someone by acceding to their demands is arrived at from APE (primate) as a noun denoting a large primate that taken inside (fed) PEAS (edible seeds) as a plural noun denoting the small, round, green edible seeds of a leguminous plant

3d           Cheers commercial with Apple software (5)
ADIÓS: The definition of an interjection used to express farewell or goodbye, an example of which is cheers i.e. a colloquial term for ‘goodbye’ derived from Spanish expression ‘a dios’, literally meaning ‘to God’ is reached from a charade of AD (commercial) as an informal term for an advertisement, a type of which could be commercial, that is an advertisement included with another broadcast as on radio, television or a podcast and IOS (Apple software) as referring to iOS, the name of the operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. for its iPhones

4d           Help to raise clans for attacks (9)
DIATRIBES: AID (help) as to help or assist to go up (raise) as a reversal in the down clue followed by TRIBES (clans) as a plural noun denoting clans or groups of people sharing common ancestry guides to the definition of a plural noun denoting forceful, bitter or verbal attacks

5d           Scour top of pan with egg on (5)
PURGE: The defintion of a verb denoting to scour, rinse or clean is got from the topmost or leading letter in the down clue (top) of P[AN] followed by URGE (egg on) as a verb meaning to encourage, incite, or egg someone on

6d           Number one lover? (9)
EGOMANIAC: The definition of an abnormally egotistical person who is full of vanity is cryptically reached from EGO as the word used in mentioning oneself, an example of which is ‘number one’ i.e. a slang term for oneself and MANIAC as a person who is an unreasonable and excessive enthusiast, fan or lover; hence MANIAC of EGO or a person who is an enthusiast or lover of self or one who is obsessively self-centred or in love with themselves, or, precisely, EGOMANIAC

7d           Second wasted expert (7)
SKILLED: S (Second) as the abbreviation for second followed by KILLED (wasted) as a slang verb in the past tense meaning wasted or passed time without working or in avoiding work leads to the definition of an adjective meaning expert, experienced or accomplished

8d           Train up converts to find fanatic (7)
PURITAN: An anagram (converts) of TRAIN UP guides to the definition of a noun denoting a fanatic, specifically a person who adheres to strict moral or religious principles, especially one opposed to luxury and sensual enjoyment

14d        Unhappy, invite pal around (9)
PLAINTIVE: The definition of an adjective denoting unhappy, mournful or expressing sorrow is obtained from an anagram (around) of a combination of INVITE and PAL

16d        I’d turned up with poet and chemist (9)
DISPENSER: I’D from the clue going northward (turned up) as a reversal in the down clue followed by (with) SPENSER (poet) as referring to the English poet Edmund Spenser who is celebrated for his epic poem The Fairie Queene that leads to the definition of a noun denoting a chemist, a pharmacy worker or a person who prepares and dispenses medicines

17d        Conservatives taking new oath, one that’s deranged (7)
CHAOTIC: CC (Conservatives) as the cryptic plural for Conservatives; C being the abbreviation for Conservative having inside (taking) a combination comprising an anagram (new) of OATH followed by I (one) as the Roman numeral for one leads to the definition of an adjective denoting complete confused or disordered, an example of which is deranged i.e. insane, unstable or crazy

18d        Turtle avoiding soft ground (7)
TERRAIN: TERRA[P]IN (turtle) as a web-footed pond or river turtle of the family Emydidae, also called water turtle omitting or dropping (avoiding) P (soft) as an abbreviation for piano that is a musical term for an adjective meaning soft or quiet leads to the definition of a ground or a piece of ground, especially with reference to its physical character or military potential

20d        Coffee with chap originally found in part of the Middle East (7)
ARABICA: The definition of coffee produced from the shrub Coffea arabica, growing especially in Brazil and other South American countries is reached from the original or initial letter (originally) of C[HAP] seen inside (found in) ARABIA (part of the Middle East) as a noun denoting the large peninsula in south-west Asia between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf

21d        ‘Tis Relax? (3,4)
SIT BACK: In place of ’TIS, the old-fashioned or poetic version of ‘it is’, bearing the grammatically correct opening apostrophe, the intentional and masterful use of an incorrect opening apostrophe in ‘TIS by the setter acts as a genius visual indicator that the solver must look at the word from the BACK side to unpack the reversal, that is, SIT from BACK, or precisely SIT BACK, that leads to the definition meaning to relax or to rest and take no part in any activity

23d        Clever sting (5)
SMART: Double definition; the second being a verb meaning to sting, burn, bite or to feel or cause to feel a sensation of heat or discomfort that takes to the first an adjective denoting amusingly clever, witty or readily effective, as a speaker, speech or rejoinder

24d        Contract ignoring wife’s tax (5)
DRAIN: DRA[W] IN (Contract) as a phrasal verb meaning to contract or become shorter, especially of hours daylight setting aside or leaving (ignoring) W (wife) as the genealogical abbreviation for wife leads to the definition of a verb meaning to tax, exhaust or tire out

There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 15a, 17a, 26a, 28a, 5d, 6d, 16d, 17d, 18d, 20d, 21d and 24d; 21d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Chris Lancaster for the entertainment. Looking forward to seeing you here again. Have a nice day.