History of Chocolate

Wedgewood Chocolate Pot ca 1790
Metropolitan Museum of Art

"They went to breakfast directly; but Catherine could hardly eat any thing. Tears filled her eyes, and even ran down her cheeks as she sat. The letter was one moment in her hand, then in her lap, and then in her pocket; and she looked as if she knew not what she did. The General, between his cocoa and his newspaper, had luckily no leisure for noticing her; but to the other two her distress was equally visible." Northanger Abbey chapter 25

Event:       JASNA CWNY February Meeting

Topic:       The History of Chocolate (with samples)

                  by Peggy Roll GCVM

When:      Saturday February 16, 2019 at 1 pm
Where:     NOTE LOCATION CHANGE
                  First Baptist Church
                  175 Allens Creek Rd
                  Rochester, NY 14618
                  just around the corner from B&N
Cost:         $5
                  PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Click on the registration form below to register

Registration form

"On February 16 at 1 pm, Peggy Roll from the Genesee Country Village & Museum will be presenting a talk and demonstration on the history of chocolate and American Heritage Chocolate that is used in the museum’s confections.  Peggy is an historic cook and quilter, working as an interpreter in several of the museum’s 19th century houses.  She also is a baker and cook in the museum’s institutional kitchen where food is prepared for the Confectionary and for tastings." (1)

At our January meeting, held as a monstrous blizzard descended on western NY, a hearty group of Jane Austen fans met to discuss Northanger Abbey. Mr. John Knightley would have admired us greatly.

"I admired your resolution very much, sir," said he, "in venturing out in such weather, for of course you saw there would be snow very soon. Every body must have seen the snow coming on. I admired your spirit; and I dare say we shall get home very well. Another hour or two's snow can hardly make the road impassable;” Emma chapter 15

Of course, he may have been just a bit satirical.

Northanger Abbey is the only one of Jane Austen's six novels that mentions chocolate or cocoa. In Northanger Abbey it was a beverage so engrossing that General Tilney cannot see the tears on Catherine's cheeks. It wasn't just the gentlemen like General Tilney who had chocolate for breakfast. Bennet Weinberg and Bonnie Bealer, writing in The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug, note that "In London, when men left for the day, the women often had their servants bring tea or chocolate to their bedrooms" (2).

At the time of Northanger Abbey, chocolate had been around in England for over one hundred years.  Kathryn Kane writes:

The first chocolate shop known in England was opened about 1657, in Gracechurch Street, London, by an enterprising Frenchman. He not only sold chocolate ready to drink, but he sold a recipe book for various chocolate drinks and gave lessons on how to make this fashionable new beverage at home. It was at about this same time that England gained access to a rich source of cacao, when they took Jamaica from Spain, in 1655. (3)

Gracechurch Street, as all Jane Austen fans will know, is the location of the Gardiner's home in Pride and Prejudice.  Perhaps Jane and Elizabeth savored hot cocoa as they confided in each other during Lizzy's visit to Gracechurch Street.

There is so much more to learn about chocolate. Please join us for a tasty experience of the history of chocolate. 

Please note the change in location. The First Baptist Church is located on the corner of Clover Street and Allens Creek Road, less than a mile from the Pittsford Barnes and Noble. The parking lot is in the rear and may be entered from either Allens Creek Road or Clover Street.  The building entrance faces the parking lot. Look for signs.

1. My thanks to Peggy Roll of GCVM for this information about the talk, and other links to all things chocolate.

2. Weinberg, Bennet, and Bealer, Bonnie, The World of Caffeine: The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug, Routledge, 2002, p. 170.

3. Kane, Kathryn, The Regency Redingote, https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/regency-chocolate-mdash-pale-thick-and-frothy/