How Does Sugar Affect British Society

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The introduction of sugar into the European nations allowed its expansion in huge amounts as many royalty and nobles have come to prefer its sweetness. However, the carving of sweetness allows sugar to play a role in political, economic, and social changes in Britain. Sweetness and Power by Sidney Mintz explores the causes and effect of the use of sugar in Britain and how those effects changes the structure of the intake of sugar. The consumption of sugar within the Britain society demonstrated a sensational expansion of sugar as it shifts from the rich to the poor. With the consumption of sugar, it provided an image and explanation of the purpose of the consumption and what its uses were to change Britain’s society politically, economically, …show more content…

The increase in production allows sugar to be used as a type of sweetener for beverages that were bitter, such as tea, coffee, and chocolate (108). It explains how sugar is changing the nation socially as it is being embedded into the society more than it had before when it was in the use of the rich class. Nevertheless, sugar also played an important role in increasing the use of tea. Sugar as part of tea drinking changed the British society socially and economically as more individuals would use sugar more alongside with tea. Tea was considered the perfect drink for the British people, unlike chocolate and coffee as tea can be tolerated, even if it was diluted until it tasted like water (112). It reveals the effect of sugar as many rich individuals begin to use sugar as a sweetener for beverages which increases the consumption of sugar in daily life for the British people. It also explains that the use of sugar for beverages eventually become integrated into the other classes as sugar become more available for …show more content…

With the increase in the production of sugar, it eventually allows the decrease in prices, which leads to more consumption of sugar not only by the rich but also the lower classes. As sugar consumption shifts from being a luxury into a necessity for individuals, the prices continue to decrease (140). It displays the immense consumption of sugar as prices decrease, allowing the lower classes to consume more sugar, which eventually leads it to become a necessity instead of a luxury. The decrease in prices of sugar has allowed more consumption of sugar, which implies that sugar has become quite a necessity for individuals, especially in Britain; however, it does not explain there is such an increase in consumption. However, the increase in consumption of sugar also began to play a part in people’s

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