Chocolate. History, Culture and Heritage. 2009. col. illus. 984 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.

In addition to pleasing palates since ancient times, chocolate has played an integral role in culture, society, religion, medicine, and economic development across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. This book features fifty-six essays representing research activities and contributions in such diverse fields as anthropology, archaeology, biochemistry, culinary arts, gender studies, engineering, history, linguistics, nutrition, and paleography. The result is an unparalleled, scholarly examination of chocolate, beginning with ancient pre-Colombian civilizations and ending with twenty-first-century reports. The book offers careful documentation, and it also features nearly 150 color illustrations, new and previously unpublished information, and interpretations of chocolate history. Moreover, it offers a wealth of unusual and interesting facts and folklore about one of the world's favorite foods.