Little Book of Chocolate

Dark, white, milk, praline, as a drink the variations on the theme of chocolate are endless. From its reputation as an aphrodisiac to recent research showing it can be good for your health, chocolate has long enjoyed unparalleled popularity. This book sets out to explore the adventures of the humble cocoa bean, and why it inspires such devotion in its admirers. It covers the history of chocolate from its origins as the favored drink of the Aztecs to its conquest of Europe, where it long remained the preserve of the nobility. Also examined are the processes by which the cocoa bean is t r a n s formed into delicious chocolate, in all its forms. But chocolate is more than just something to appease a sweet tooth: cocoa is the third most-traded commodity on the world market. This book also looks into the economic and social issues behind chocolate production. But at the heart of this book is the delicious, sweet sensation familiar to every chocolate lover, when a square of fine chocolate melts in the mouth. The book gives advice on the best way to savor chocolate, not just as a taste sensation but also as the inspiration for artists, writers, and designers. There are even clubs dedicated wholly to the guilt-free enjoyment of this food of the gods. The Little Book of Chocolate offers all chocolate lovers a moment of pure chocolate heaven!