The Journey of the Bean (Paperback)

Samuel Mutter

ISBN 10: 1909248428 / ISBN 13: 9781909248427

Published by Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd, Blackawton, 2016

About this Item

Paperback. 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. The journey of the cacao bean is full of incident and has a certain romance, as from this bean comes one of our favourite foods. It came from South America, the ancient Maya of Mesoamerica in the Aztec empire. A book to enchant the historian, and with many recipes, to please the cook. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781909248427

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Journey of the Bean (Paperback)
• Publisher: Marion Boyars Publishers Ltd, Blackawton
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1909248428
• ISBN 13: 9781909248427
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The cacao bean came from South America, the ancient Maya of Mesoamerica in the Aztec empire, and travelled on to Spain, and then to the Caribbean, Martinique, Saint Lucia and the Dominican Republic. Chocolate has a rich history - including religious and cultural symbolism for the ancient Maya and Aztec civilisations, the spread of its trade and cultivation, via Spanish colonialism, and it became a valuable commodity, earning status through the place of the chocolate house in 19th Century European politics. It also attracts controversy, over fair trade right up to the debate over its health properties, which continue to this day. What is less well known, is that the arrogance of Columbus meant he did not really know what cacoa was. On his fourth voyage in 1502, he accidentally landed in Honduras instead of Jamaica, and, according to Columbus' son Ferdinand, he described the Maya's trading canoes as 'Venetian gondolas', and thought the cacao beans were 'almonds'. European traders who bought from the Aztecs were also easily fooled and frequently bought cargoes of avocado stones and were none the wiser. A book to enchant the historian, and, with a full complement of chocolate recipes, to please the cook.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 London.

About the Author

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.