A fascinating account for teen readers that captures the history, science, and economic and cultural implications of the harvesting of cacao and creation of chocolate. Readers of "Chew On This" and "The Omnivore's Dilemma" will savor this rich expose. This history of the beloved food explains how cacao also has been a currency, a royal drink, a means of diplomacy, a slave-produced commodity, and a boon to farmers.

The world's most perfect food -- The cocoa woods: back to before -- Tree of myth and money -- Blood and chocolate -- Taming wild amazon chocolate -- Doing well by doing good: chocolate in the industrial age -- The dark side of chocolate -- Candy, food, or medicine? -- In search of wild chocolate: new science meets ancient trees -- The mother tree and the accidental chocolate makers -- White beans -- How to eat chocolate -- Chocolate timeline.