Cultural staples: Cocoa. Part I

Cultural staples: Cocoa. Part I

Presented by: Rocio Carvajal Food history writer, cook and author.

Episode 59

In part I of this special you will hear about cocoa’s botanical origin, and how its cultivation was intimately connected to the rise of the first civilisations of ancient Mexico. Discover why cocoa inspired myths, recipes and rites, and find out how centuries later, the exotic and addictive chocolate conquered the palates of Spanish colonisers who obsessed to the point of fearing for the salvation of their souls.