The Food of the Gods: A Popular Account of Cocoa — John Shaqi
The Food of the Gods: A Popular Account of CocoaHead, Brandon
History
The Food of the Gods: A Popular Account of Cocoa
Head, Brandon
Cocoa
At No. 64, St. James's Street is the "Cocoa Tree Club." In the reign
of Queen Anne there was a famous chocolate-house known as the "Cocoa
Tree," a favourite sign to mark that new and fashionable beverage. Its
frequenters were Tories of the strictest school. De Foe tells us in
his "Journey through England," that "a Whig will no more go to the
'Cocoa Tree' ... than a Tory will be seen at the coffee-house of St.
James's." In course of time the "Cocoa Tree" developed into a
gaming-house and a club.
As a club, the "Cocoa Tree" did not cease to keep up its reputation
for high play. Although the present establishment bearing the name
dates its existence only from the year 1853, the old chocolate-house
was probably converted into a club as far back as the middle of the
last century. Lord Byron was a member of this club, and so was Gibbon,
the historian.
--From "Old and New London," Cassell & Co.
NOTE.
Reference in detail to the numerous authorities who have been laid
under contribution for this brochure would be out of place in so
popular a compilation, but the writer desires to express his special
indebtedness to "Cocoa: All about It" by "Historicas," not only for
facts, but also for some of his illustrations. To Messrs. Cadbury,
too, he is indebted for permission to use several of the
illustrations, as well as for much valuable information.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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