Customer Reviews

Chocolate: The Sweet History

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I collect and invest in cookbooks. I also purchase histories of food. . .including historical narratives of appetizers, entrees, desserts, coffee, spirts, etc.

Kimmerlie's book is a classic. . I've ordered additional copies of her impressively researched, well-written, and wondefully illustrated book, as gifts for friends, and relatives. Her first "candy" book is also on my list of purchases that I purchase for valued colleagues.

bjd

What a delicious book. It's beautiful presented both inside and out and it talks about one of my favourite subjects: chocolate. It can't get better than that. Apart from the great pictures in here, there is a lot of information about this heavenly treat and also history about brands. Yoo-Hoo was created in 1924, the Godiva company was founded in 1926 and Hershey's Chocolate World theme park opened in 1973 are just some of the fun facts in the chocolate timeline in here. There is a section about descriptions and terms of chocolate. It lists the differences. Then later in the book there is more info about the various chocolate companies (Mars, Hersheys, Sees Candies etc). This book I'm sure will appeal to so many people of all different tastes and backgrounds because if there is one thing in the world that most people can agree on, is how good chocolate is.

I ordered this book several years ago to do a paper. Yes, it is good enough to use as a reference for a college level paper. On a less serious note, it is also entertaining to read for chocolate lovers, and even though I completed my paper and class a long time ago, we still have this book.

Most of have loved chocolate for as long as we can remember and this excellent treatment of the world of chocolate will have something for all of us.
It was interesting to read the history of Chocolate and to think that it really didn't become widespread in Europe or North America until the mid 1700's. What a treatless life it must have been when that wonderful indulgence wasn't available to people of all ages and a delicate combination of of traits: exclusive,romantic,sinfully indulgent,seductive,exotic,delicious,and yet healthful,nutritious and above all else,legal.Although the book concentrates on the chocolate products that were sold in The United States,it brings back fond memories to me , since Canadians were also great lovers of chocolate as well.While we had candy companies of our own here,we also benefited from chocolate products from The British Isles,Europe and of course United States.I was born in 1935 and experienced something that surprisingly was not mentioned in the book .I was just a kid during WWII (1939-1945) and had already developed a love of chocolate and other candy.However;these treats came to a sudden halt because of rationing of sugar,butter,meat,gas,alcohol,as well as a slew of other things. As a result ,we did not see things like bananas,bubble gum,chocolate bars,etc. until the end of the war.
However;where there is a will there is a way ;so it became very popular to "Squirrel Up" some sugar and making of homemade fudge became very popular. Everybody made it,and fudge sales became very popular to raise money for all sorts of clubs and organizations. But things have changed ,and I haven't heard of anyone "making fudge" for years.
In Canada,we have always been very fond of candy bars or chocolate bars.There were a large variety and many still can be found today. They were sold by every "corner store" the five & dime stores like Woolworths,candy bars at the movie theatres,and even in 1948 or so were 5 Cents each.Boxed candy was also popular but was more for special occasions and/or gifts.
A lot of the names mentioned in the book such a Baker's ,Hershey's, Cadbury's, etc. are well known here in Canada.Fanny Farmer is also known ,but not nearly as well as Laura Secord.However;the picture on page 63 really got my interest. This box is identical in every way except for the name and picture.In Canada it is Laura Secord .They are probably the most popular and have their own stores everywhere.Other common names are Nestles, Lowney's,Neilson's .I suspect that there is a lot of common ownership involved.Things are forever changing,I have my doubts if the quality and taste is as good as it used to be,but many products that I remember from many years past are still around such as Oh Henry,Malted Milk (Mars Bars),Coffee Crisp,Crispy Crunch,Hershey's Kisses ,etc.
A great book and reminder of the part chocolate plays in all our lives and indulgences.

Chocolate makers and company evolution are the focus of a tasty selection of historical notes in Beth Kimmerle's Chocolate: The Sweet History - but the focus doesn't end with company profiles alone. Historical details trace chocolate's Aztec origins, cocoa plant myths and usage, timelines of chocolate trade development, and more, adding depth and insights which include notes on different varieties of chocolate. Add luscious historical photos and ads in full color and you have a delicious presentation indeed, packed with history and appeal.

Purchased this book as a gift and it tells a great story and was bound well. It also looks pretty good on the coffee table.

this book was delicious it was very interesting i never knew most of this stuff in there
it made me so hungry for chocolate and im a chocolate fanatic
DELCIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

even the book tasted good
~~~ body hottie