Overview

The cacao bean's journey is one full of incidence and romance, and one which epitomizes the Colombian exchange. Mistaken for almonds at one point by Columbus, the cacao bean's value was soon realized even though European traders were often fooled into buying cargoes of avocado stones. Nevertheless, it became a valuable commodity, earning status through the role of the chocolate house in 19th Century European politics. This is a social and economic history of chocolate, looking at the cultural and ritual importance it held for ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations and its reception in the cultural capitals of Europe. It also lays out the controversy over fair trade that taints the chocolate industry today as well as covering the debate over its health properties. Along with the history, the book provides a full complement of international recipes, both sweet and savoury.

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9781909248427

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Author Information

Samuel Mutter gained a First Class degree in Geography and is a recent Masters graduate in Politics and International Relations from Royal Holloway College, University of London. He is a food blogger and political writer. He lives in Putney, London, and is assisting Prospect Books with Symposium events through 2015 and commencing a PhD.

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