| Author: |
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Patricia Rain
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| Title: |
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Vanilla |
| Moochable copies: |
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No copies available |
| Recommended: |
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| Topics: |
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| Published in: |
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English |
| Binding: |
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Paperback |
| Pages: |
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| Date: |
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2005-09-22 |
| ISBN: |
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1585424439 |
| Publisher: |
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Tarcher |
| Weight: |
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1.0 pounds |
| Size: |
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0.0 x 0.0 x 0.0 inches |
Amazon prices: |
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| Description: |
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Product Description
Part culinary history, part cultural commentary, Vanilla tells the remarkable story of the world's most popular flavor and scent.
The Spanish considered vanilla the ultimate aphrodisiac, the Totonac Indians called it the fruit of the gods, and the Aztecs taxed the Mayans in vanilla beans, using the beans as currency. Today, it's in our coffee, tea, perfumes, body lotions, and just about everything else imaginable.
Patricia Rain explores the incredibly diverse impact of vanilla on the worlds of food, medicine, psychology, and even politics. She intertwines the fields of cultural anthropology, botany, folklore, and economics, tracing the path of vanilla throughout world history. Vanilla shows how, over the last eight hundred years, this extraordinary little bean saved the indigenous peoples of Mexico and Tahiti, put Madagascar on the map, spurred trade routes across the Indian Ocean, and drove the success of the great Parisian perfume houses and Europe's confection industry. Rain illuminates the story of vanilla with rich detail and discusses its current impact on our lives and on modern retail, where the "vanilla boom" has caused the prices of many common consumer items to skyrocket.
Filled with fascinating insights, quirky characters, trivia, and even recipes, this beautifully written book is perfect for vanilla lovers, history buffs, and anyone interested in a real-life captivating story.
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| URL: |
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http://bookmooch.com/1585424439 |
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