On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao

The connection between Jews and chocolate wasn't one I knew about until my rabbi, inspired partly by this book, gave a summer course about it. It's fascinating to read about how Jewish merchants from the middle ages on, often prevented by law from owning property, engaged in the trading of chocolate. Other clergy, especially Catholic, seemed to have strong opinions about chocolate, either for or against it. I enjoyed the author's descriptions of the odyssey she and her husband enjoyed, researching information and tasting chocolate. However, there are whole sections where she lists facts about historic in a kind of disjointed way. Then she'll go on with more historic events or description of where she traveled and make more statements about historic figures, sometimes new information about the same people. It's kind of disjointed. The information she uncovered is new and startling. This book needs a huge amount of editing to be a pleasure to read.

on The Chocolate trail was a deliciously interesting book. As a chocolate lover is was very interesting to read about the history of chocolate. I had to restrain myself from running to a local cafe for hot chocolate as I indulged in the book. Ironically enough I was gifted with a molinollo right after I completed the book it was total coincidence. I had had one years ago and was thinking about it when a colleague returned from a quick visit to her home town in Mexico and brought one back to me. Amazing:).

Rabbi Deborah Prinz's book makes a great addition to your favorite chocoholic's library. Packed with interesting tidbits about the literal and figural journey chocolate has taken and it's connection to Jews today, it's a fun read with recipes to make once your chocolate cravings kick in. And they will kick in.This is my new go-to hostess gift, birthday present, and Hanukkah treat! Appealing to a wide range of readers- bakers, history buffs, Jews and Christians alike, not to mention chocolate aficionados.

Interesting book and large print on the historic influence of Jews in the chocolate industry.

Rabbi Prinz turned me on to many events/connections I had never known before reading this book. She spoke to us on Friday night about it and I literally could not put the book down after purchasing it when I got home from synagogue. I think she touched the hearts of everyone there while describing it -- and the book had the same affect, and then some.Read this if you want to be enlightened!

I attended a class where this was on the recommended reading list. After I read it, I'll pass it on to friends & library

As a chocaholic, who has tried, repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, to kick the habit, I looked forward to "On the Chocolate Trail." As another reviewer noted, the author rambles, on and on, page and page. The book reads more like the transcript of a casual talk. In the hands of a good editor, the book would be tightened up, reorganized, and the author's heavy use of hackneyed journalistic style and of legalisms, such as "and/or," would be rewritten into clear prose. I was surprised that nowhere did I find "caffeine" or "stimulant" in a book about chocolate. "On the Chocolate Trail" could be so much better.

Rabbi Prinz invites the reader on chocolate adventure, including historical background, sights & tastes of Europe & the fun of chocolate. It is a great way to make learning of culture & tradition engaging. I can't wait to try a couple recipes & return to Paris, Barcelona etc with this book as my guide. Getting it for holiday gifts!!R Karen L Fox

great book for lovers of chocolate history travel - this is actually a second copy to be given as a gift