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Wolfgang Schivelbusch

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Tastes of Paradise: A Social History of Spices, Stimulants, and Intoxicants Paperback – June 29, 1993

by Wolfgang Schivelbusch (Author), David Jacobson (Translator)

4.3 160 ratings

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From the extravagant use of pepper in the Middle Ages to the Protestant bourgeoisie's love of coffee to the reason why fashionable Europeans stopped sniffing tobacco and starting smoking it, Schivelbusch looks at how the appetite for pleasure transformed the social structure of the Old World. Illustrations.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Vintage Books
Publication date

June 29, 1993
Dimensions

8.5 x 5.43 x 0.3 inches
ISBN-10

067974438X
ISBN-13

978-0679744382
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This social history of pleasure-producing substances covers the Middle Ages to the modern era from the perch of an adroit and amiable Marxist sociology. Illustrations.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

"Schivelbusch fits seemingly commonplace popular trends within the wider frame of economic and political history "--Houston Phoenix
"A very pleasurable blend of historical detail, social analysis and
unusual discernment." --Philadelphia Inquirer

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage Books (June 29, 1993)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 067974438X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679744382
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 5.43 x 0.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #171,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #113 in Customs & Traditions Social Sciences
- #193 in Food Science (Books)
- #211 in Gastronomy History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 160 ratings

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Christian Keeven

Tastes of paradise

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2021

Verified Purchase

Very happy to obtain a hard copy of this wonderful book, as a gift for my brother.

Helpful

Austin Holmes

Interesting recap through the history of drugs

Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2020

Verified Purchase

In depth look at the drugs used throughout time and in western cultures in particular. Introduction of coffee, spices, chocolate, tobacco, hashish, and alcohol into society. Great read!

One person found this helpful

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Karen B

Interesting and thoroughly engaging read

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2015

Verified Purchase

Tastes of Paradise: A Social History of Spices, Stimulants and Intoxicants by Wolfgang Schivelbusch is a fascinating socio-historical study that offers revealing insights into the role various spices, “drugs” and particularly beverages have played in (mostly) Western culture. While the section on spices is brief, it forms a sound introduction to the three major “tastes” Schivelbusch examines: coffee, tea and tobacco (others do get a small platform, such as opium, beer, ale and gin). Chocolate gets a brief glimpse, but it’s mainly the role the non-alcoholic and hot drinks of tea and coffee, and concomitantly tobacco, and how their production and consumption - one that changed from medicinal to pleasurable - reshaped society that’s the primary focus of this book.
Rather then simply understanding coffee, tea and tobacco from the commercial point of view (though Schivelbusch does examine this as well as the relationship between East and West in terms of trade and production), his main concern is to look at how coffee and tea functioned ideologically and socially in terms of promoting a specific protestant and middle class view of the world.
Turning from the beer and ale of the Middle Ages and Renaissance working classes and the inebriated state that often followed a day of drinking (remembering that water was not drunk to quench thirst in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance – it was dangerous – so beer/ale was not only drunk to stave off thirst but to provide much needed calories for workers and soldiers – he discusses the popular “beer soup” as an example), the rising middle classes, the bourgeoisie, embraced coffee and tea as “their” drink. As Schivelbusch argues, “Coffee… spread through the body and achieved chemically and pharmacologically what rationalism and the Protestant ethic sought to fulfil spiritually and ideologically. With coffee, the principle of rationality entered human physiology…”
So, not only did coffee become a class-based drink, it was also associated with a religious and aesthetic viewpoint as well.
Not at first. At first, coffee, tea and chocolate drinking were regarded as part of the cult of luxury and only available to those with the means to consume them. It was only later that it became the drink of rationality and conviction and thus spread through the middle classes – familiarity breeding not contempt but desire. Likewise, with tea. Chocolate didn’t fair so well being regarded a bit more suspiciously and as a drink associated with idleness and decadence.
While women in public consumed none of the drinks when they first became available, over time tea particularly became very domesticated and even feminised. Chocolate drinking also became something women did in private, and bore connotations of sexual liberty and naughtiness, partly to do with the idea it had aphrodisiac qualities. Women who drank it were viewed with a jaundiced and unrespectable eye - something that changed when chocolate became mass-produced and women were used in advertising and targeted as the major market.
Schivelbusch also discusses the role of coffee houses and chocolate ones too, especially in England. How they became places where, unlike taverns and inns, conversation was sober and robust. Men of business (not aristocrats necessarily) could meet and discuss daily news, politics and generally gossip. Various coffee houses became so renown for this, they also had strong ties with either the newly emerging Whig or Tory parties. They developed reputations as hotbeds of potential coups. They also became closely identified with particular types of business – for example, Lloyd’s Coffee House was the place where maritime folk met – sailors, captains, sea-venturing business people met, especially those who functioned as underwriters and insurance brokers. Of course, Lloyd’s eventually evolved into the now famous Lloyd’s of London. Men chose carefully which coffee house they entered, and thus the establishment and the beverage served all became strongly associated with self-definition.
While Shivelbusch’s research is wide-ranging and impressive, it’s his discussions of the social role of human consumption of substances like beer, tea, coffee, chocolate, gin, opium and tobacco that are this book’s strength. Written in the 1970s, so much of what it uncovers is so relevant – the rituals around alcoholic drinking, the bar as a public meeting place where strangers can converse and rounds are bought and what this all signifies – is all very strong. It’s when he discusses various opiates, other drugs and even tobacco in the contemporary setting that the age of the book shows, but this should not deter a reader. Instead, it’s easy to fill in the gaps which demonstrates how important all these things – drugs, stimulants and various other intoxicants – liquid and non-liquid – are in society even today. We all have an opinion on their role and how and where they should be consumed and by whom.
A gem of a book that was an easy and fascinating read. Highly recommended.

16 people found this helpful

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cedric ray smith

Thank you Amazon.com

Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2020

Verified Purchase

As soon as I touched the book I felt rich, cool feeling looks like a wonderful read.

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2012

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I have read it before, but want to have it as part of my collection. it is full of insight that I had no idea of as to how and why we have some customs and where certain tastes came from

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2023

Verified Purchase

Just started reading this book. The printing is faint, and off-center on each page. Everything is pushed to the very top of the page, and the light printing on the cheap grey-yellow paper stock makes it hard to read; maybe in broad daylight it would be OK, but definitely not reading in bed material.

One person found this helpful

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APRIL KRAMER

Very interesting read

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2013

Verified Purchase

This was a required read for a history class, but it was also a very interesting read. Shared much about common spices and such and their place in history as well as some customs associated with them.

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Chaya Health advisor, Mentor, Emotion Healing Counseling.

Not what I expected

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022

Verified Purchase

Disappointed
Not what I expected at all

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Top reviews from other countries

Camellia Pen

Amazing research to whisk the senses and stir the mind

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2023

Verified Purchase

Great research

Natalia Rubiano

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

Perfect!

Mr David Cartwright

An interesting but dated content book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2020

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An interesting book but goodness it took a long time to arrive with three separate changes of date for the estimated arrival although in favour of Amazon each update shortened the arrival date

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