Bittersweet: Chocolate, Tea, Coffee

Bittersweet – Chocolate, Tea, Coffee explores the introduction of chocolate, tea, and coffee into Europe as part of European colonial expansion. The arrival of these new drinks profoundly transformed Western drinking habits, tastes, and social customs. Their growing popularity created a demand for specialised vessels such as coffee cups, sugar bowls, tea canisters, and chocolate pots, driving technological innovation, including the development of European porcelain. Bittersweet also examines the human cost behind the production of these commodities. Coffee was imported from Africa through the Middle East, tea from Asia, and chocolate from the Americas, while sugar, used to temper the bitter flavours, was harvested by slaves on colonial plantations. To meet demand and keep prices low, merchants such as the Dutch and British East India Companies, eventually found ways to cultivate tea and coffee on foreign territories colonised under their rule. Bittersweet ultimately challenges us to reflect on the beauty and consequences of our daily rituals.

Author: Dr Matthew Martin

2025