Picture this: you're biting into a chocolate bar that bursts with flavors you've never imagined—fruity, nutty, earthy notes from cacao trees hidden deep in the Amazon. That's the adventure Rowan Jacobsen embarks on in Wild Chocolate: Across the Americas in Search of Cacao's Soul. A James Beard Award finalist, this Kindle edition pulls you into a world where ancient cacao fights for survival against industrial farming.
Rowan starts skeptical. Mass-market chocolate? Meh. Experts said wild cacao vanished centuries ago. Then, Cru Sauvage—a bar from pure wild Bolivian cacao—changes everything. That single dazzling bite launches him on a chase through Central America and the Amazon, tracing the supply chain back to its roots.
Along the way, he meets vivid characters: indigenous leaders safeguarding heirloom varietals, activists pulling cacao from extinction's edge, and innovative chocolate makers crafting bars that showcase diversity no factory could dream up. They're bucking Big Chocolate's preference for low-flavor, high-yield crops, creating an alternative system instead. Local economies thrive, soils regenerate, and rainforests stay safe from cattle ranching's destruction.
It's not just history—it's happening now. These rare beans fuel a new generation of bean-to-bar chocolatiers, producing extraordinary flavors that redefine what chocolate can be.
Whether you're a casual snacker or a craft chocolate aficionado, Wild Chocolate answers burning questions: Where does the best cacao come from? How can we support sustainable chocolate? What flavors lurk in forgotten genetics? Sensory details leap off the page—the humid rainforest air, the pod's fresh crack open, the melt of a perfect bar.
Grab this on Kindle for easy reading anywhere—commute, cozy night in, or beach escape. It's as rich and addictive as the chocolate it celebrates. Endorsed by Mark Bittman and José Andrés, it's your ticket to understanding the soul of cacao. Next time you savor a bar, you'll taste the story behind it.
