176 



Sugar added to 



Difeovered by 

 •thcr nations. 



Extraordinary 

 •virtues attribu- 

 ted to it. 



Whether well 

 founded. 



017 THE COMPOSITION AftD t'SE OF C&OCOlATtf. 



Jt fecret, and fold, and continue to fell to other nations, a fim- 1 

 pie parte of cocoa roafred, bruifed and brought into the form 

 of cylindrical rolls, for chocolate. * 



The ufe of fugar having been rendered more common irf 

 Europe by the introduction of the cane into our colonies, it 

 foon became the u'niverfal condiment, and the Spaniards did 

 not fail to make it an addition to the preparation of chocolate, 

 for the purpofe of correcting its unp'leafantnek to thofe who 

 were tfnacctfftomed to this beverage ; but it was not till fome 

 time afterwards that other nations made the difeovery that co- 

 coa was its bafe, fugar its feafoning, and cinnamon and vanilla 

 its aromatic ingredients. This difcovery became a fource of 

 wealth to a number of individuals, who in their turn made a 

 myftery of it; hence arofe the chocolates of Italy, of Portugal, 

 and of Spain, which, compared with thofe prepared in Paris, 

 and the other towns of France, poflefs no fuperiority. Why 

 fhould we allow thofe countries to have fuch an advantage over 

 us? The ingredients which form chocolate are not cultivated 

 in them any more than with us, we all obtain them from the 

 fame fources and at the fame charges. At Naples, Lifbon, 

 and Madrid, the chocolate of France is in great efteem ; bat 

 it is an eftablifhed maxim in all countries that one (hall be 

 thought a prophet at home,- and this proverb may alfo be ap- 

 plied to chocolate. 



I ftiall not enquire whether chocolate really deferves the en- 

 comiums beftowed on it, or whether it be advantageous in all 

 the cafes in which its ufe is recommended. If we credit the 

 writings of the phyiicians of the two worlds, nature has formed 

 the cocoa as a remedy for all the evils that afflict the human 

 race, and as the means of prolonging life beyond its accuftom- 

 ed limits. But it is difficult to guard againft exaggeration, 

 particularly on the fubject of productions which frequently have 

 no other value but that arifmg from their growing at a diftance 

 from us, and under another hemifphere. From experience 

 and obfervation we have learned nothing more than that cho- 

 colate is an agreeable aliment, light and of eafy digeition; it 

 is for that reafon given particularly to convalefcents, to per-» 

 fons of delicate habits, and to the aged. In fact, to obtain its 

 good effects uniformly, it is neceflary that the ingredients of 

 which it is compofed mould be properly felecled, well pre- 

 pared, and intimately mixed, fo as to form a foft, homogene- 

 ous, parte. 



Oil 



