J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Coffee, Tea, or...?

On Saturday, 27 September, Historic Deerfield will host a one-day conference on the three hot beverages of the eighteenth century.

We still consume tea and coffee in much the same way as they did then, but at that time British-Americans enjoyed a third hot drink derived from a tropical plant: chocolate. Chocolate wasn’t yet the solid, sweet dessert that we expect today. It was more often a breakfast beverage, with a kick. (Then as now people recognized chocolate’s many restorative qualities.)

Historic Deerfield’s announcement says in part:

The introduction of tea, coffee, and chocolate into 17th-century Europe had an immediate and lasting effect on the tastes and habits of the western world.

Historic Deerfield will hold a one-day forum on the history and material culture of tea, coffee, and chocolate on Saturday, September 27, 2008. Participants will enjoy a day of lectures, tours, hands-on workshops, open-hearth demonstrations, and lively conversations about these three important, hot beverages.
  • Curator Gerald W. R. Ward of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will educate you on the delights of coffee and coffee-related objects,
  • Parson’s School of Design adjunct professor Jennifer Goldsborough will discuss the role of tea in social life, etiquette, and decorative arts.
  • Historic Deerfield’s Amanda Lange will speak on chocolate in early America and its equipage.
There will also be tastings, naturally. Here’s the brochure and registration form.

1 comment:

Robert S. Paul said...

Wow. I was pretty interested in this until I saw the pricetag.

I suppose it's a fair price, but for my wife and I to attend, I could buy a pantry full of tea or maybe one or two drinks at Starbucks.