Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆(4.5/5)
Genre: Food History / Culinary History / Anthropology / Cultural Studies / Non-Fiction

Book Review:
The Definitive, Delicious History of the Food of the Gods
Sophie and Michael Coe's ''The True History of Chocolate'' is a book that delivers exactly what its title promises: a comprehensive, authoritative, and utterly fascinating account of the history of chocolate. It is a work of serious scholarship that is also a joy to read, a book that will satisfy both the intellect and the sweet tooth.

The book begins in the ancient jungles of Mesoamerica, where the cacao tree was first domesticated. The Coes, both distinguished anthropologists, brilliantly reconstruct the role of chocolate in the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations. For these peoples, chocolate was not a candy; it was a sacred drink, a ritual offering, a currency, and a symbol of power. The authors delve into the mythology, the ceremonies, and the everyday life surrounding this precious bean.

The story then follows the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and the transformation of chocolate as it crossed the Atlantic. The Coes explore how the bitter, spiced drink of the Aztecs was gradually sweetened and adapted to European tastes, becoming a fashionable luxury for the elite. They trace its spread across the continent, its role in the rise of plantation economies and slavery, and its eventual democratization through the Industrial Revolution.

The book is filled with wonderful details: the first chocolate recipe, the invention of the chocolate bar, the role of Quakers in the chocolate industry, and the modern revival of fine, artisanal chocolate. It is also beautifully illustrated, with images ranging from ancient Maya pots to vintage advertisements.

Critics have been unanimous in their praise. The Literary Review called it ''a true classic,'' the New York Review of Books described it as ''a splendid treat,'' and the Sunday Telegraph praised it as ''genuinely scholarly and highly entertaining.'' Gourmet magazine noted that it is ''a pleasure, not just for chocoholics but for anyone who enjoys lively, thorough historical sleuthing.''

''The True History of Chocolate'' is a book that will change the way you think about your next chocolate bar. It is a rich, rewarding, and delicious read. Highly recommended.