Cómo la cafeína creó el mundo moderno

el sardinero
El Sardinero

La Coca-Cola original era un brebaje de finales del siglo XIX conocido como French Wine Coca de Pemberton, una mezcla de alcohol, nuez de cola rica en cafeína y coca, el ingrediente crudo de la cocaína. Ante la presión social, primero se quitó el vino y luego la coca, dejando en su lugar la bebida moderna más banal: agua azucarada con cafeína y carbonatada con menos sabor que una taza de café. Pero, ¿es así como pensamos en Coca-Cola? Para nada. En los años treinta, un artista comercial llamado Haddon Sundblom tuvo la brillante idea de posar a un corpulento amigo jubilado con un traje rojo de Papá Noel y una Coca-Cola en la mano, y pegar la imagen en vallas publicitarias y anuncios en todo el país. La coca, mágicamente, renació como cafeína para los niños, cafeína sin ninguna de las connotaciones adultas del café y el té. Fue, como dicen los anuncios con Santa de Sundblom, «la pausa que refresca». Añadió vida. Podría enseñar al mundo a cantar.

Una de las cosas que siempre ha hecho que las drogas sean tan poderosas es su adaptabilidad cultural, su forma de adquirir significados más allá de su farmacología. Pensamos en la marihuana, por ejemplo, como una droga de letargo, de desafección. Pero en Colombia, señala el historiador David T. Courtwright en “Forces of Habit” (Harvard; $ 24,95), “los campesinos se jactan de que el cannabis les ayuda a quita el cansancio o reduce la fatiga; aumentar su fuerza y ​​ánimo, fuerza y ​​espíritu; y se vuelve incansable, incansable «. En Alemania, justo después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, los cigarrillos se convirtieron breve y repentinamente en el equivalente del crack. “Hasta cierto punto, la mayoría de los fumadores habituales preferían prescindir de la comida, incluso en condiciones extremas de nutrición, antes que renunciar al tabaco”, según un relato de la época. «Muchas amas de casa … intercambiaban grasa y azúcar por cigarrillos». Incluso una droga tan demonizada como el opio se ha visto desde una perspectiva más favorable. En los años treinta, el abuelo de Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Warren Delano II, hizo fortuna con la familia exportando la droga a China, y Delano pudo endulzar sus actividades de manera tan plausible que nadie acusó a su nieto de ser el vástago de un narcotraficante. Y, sin embargo, como nos recuerdan Bennett Alan Weinberg y Bonnie K. Bealer en su nuevo y maravilloso libro «El mundo de la cafeína» (Routledge; $ 27,50), no existe una droga que se adapte tan fácilmente como la cafeína, el Zelig de los estimulantes químicos.

En un momento, en una forma, es la droga preferida de los intelectuales y artistas del café; en otro, de amas de casa; en otro, de los monjes Zen; y, en otro, de niños cautivados por un gordo que se desliza por las chimeneas. El rey Gustavo III, que gobernó Suecia en la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII, estaba tan convencido de los peligros particulares del café sobre todas las demás formas de cafeína que ideó un elaborado experimento. Un asesino convicto fue sentenciado a beber taza tras taza de café hasta su muerte, y otro asesino fue sentenciado a beber té de por vida, como control. (Desafortunadamente, los dos médicos a cargo del estudio murieron antes que nadie; luego Gustav fue asesinado; y finalmente el bebedor de té murió, a los ochenta y tres años, de viejo, dejando al asesino original solo con su espresso y dejando el café. supuesta toxicidad en alguna duda.) Más tarde, las diversas formas de cafeína comenzaron a dividirse a lo largo de líneas sociológicas. Wolfgang Schivelbusch, en su libro «Tastes of Paradise», sostiene que, en el siglo XVIII, el café simbolizaba las clases medias en ascenso, mientras que su gran rival cafeinado en esos años, el cacao o, como se le conocía en ese momento, el chocolate. era la bebida de la aristocracia. “Goethe, que usó el arte como un medio para elevarse de su origen de clase media a la aristocracia, y quien como miembro de una sociedad cortesana mantuvo un sentido de calma aristocrática incluso en medio de una inmensa productividad, hizo un culto al chocolate y evitaba el café ”, escribe Schivelbusch. “Balzac, que a pesar de su lealtad sentimental a la monarquía, vivió y trabajó para el mercado literario y solo para él, se convirtió en uno de los bebedores de café más excesivos de la historia. Aquí vemos dos estilos de trabajo y medios de estimulación fundamentalmente diferentes, psicologías y fisiologías fundamentalmente diferentes «. Hoy, por supuesto, la principal distinción cultural es entre café y té, que, según una lista elaborada por Weinberg y Bealer, han llegado a representar sensibilidades casi completamente opuestas:

Aspecto café
Masculino
Bullicioso
Indulgencia
Cabeza dura
Topología
Heidegger
Beethoven
Libertario
Promiscuo

Aspecto del té
Mujer
Decoroso
Templanza
Romántico
Geometría
Carnap
Mozart
Estadístico
Puro

Publicada el Por
Categorizado como Blog

106 comentarios

  1. Wow, fantastic blog structure! How long have you ever been running a blog
    for? you made blogging glance easy. The full glance of your website is excellent, let alone the content material!
    You can see similar here e-commerce

  5. An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a co-worker who has been doing a little research on this. And he actually bought me breakfast because I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this topic here on your web site.

  9. I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and amusing, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that too few folks are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy that I stumbled across this in my hunt for something concerning this.

  10. An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a co-worker who was doing a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me dinner simply because I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this topic here on your site.

  11. Hello there! This post could not be written much better! Going through this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I most certainly will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a very good read. I appreciate you for sharing!

  12. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t disappoint me as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read through, however I truly believed you would probably have something interesting to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of crying about something that you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy seeking attention.

  14. The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t fail me as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I truly believed you would have something useful to say. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something that you could fix if you were not too busy seeking attention.

  17. Hello, There’s no doubt that your blog could be having web browser compatibility problems. Whenever I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Apart from that, great blog!

  19. After checking out a few of the articles on your site, I truly appreciate your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my web site as well and tell me your opinion.

  20. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you so much, However I am having problems with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anybody else having the same RSS issues? Anyone that knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanks!

  23. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return yet again since i have saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  29. Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m certainly happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often.

  30. Hi there! This blog post couldn’t be written much better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept preaching about this. I am going to forward this post to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a great read. Thank you for sharing!

  32. As a person that’s always bewared about my blood sugar, finding Sugar Defender has
    actually been an alleviation. I feel a lot more in control, and my recent exams have revealed positive enhancements.
    Understanding I have a dependable supplement to sustain my routine provides me comfort.
    I’m so thankful for Sugar Defender’s effect on my
    health!

  40. Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after looking at a few of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I stumbled upon it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

  48. Hi there! This article couldn’t be written much better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I most certainly will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!

  54. Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins
    to assist with SEO? I’m trying to get my site to rank for
    some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good results.
    If you know of any please share. Cheers! You can read similar
    article here: Eco blankets

  55. A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you need to write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people do not discuss such subjects. To the next! Best wishes!

  56. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who has been doing a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me lunch due to the fact that I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to discuss this subject here on your web page.

  58. Can I simply just say what a comfort to discover someone who truly understands what they are discussing over the internet. You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people ought to check this out and understand this side of the story. I can’t believe you’re not more popular given that you definitely possess the gift.

  62. I really love your blog.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you make this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m wanting to create my own website and would love to know where you got this from or exactly what the theme is named. Thank you.

  65. After looking over a handful of the blog articles on your site, I honestly like your way of blogging. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

  68. After looking into a handful of the articles on your website, I honestly like your way of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Please visit my website as well and let me know your opinion.

  72. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this web site before but after going through many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m certainly delighted I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back regularly.

  74. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this website. I am hoping to check out the same high-grade content by you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own site now 😉

  80. Howdy, I do think your website may be having internet browser compatibility issues. Whenever I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.E., it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Besides that, great site!

  85. I blog frequently and I really appreciate your content. The article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to book mark your blog and keep checking for new information about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.

  88. sugar defender ingredients For many years, I have
    actually fought unforeseeable blood sugar swings that left
    me really feeling drained pipes and tired. Yet since
    integrating Sugar Defender into my routine, I’ve observed a substantial enhancement in my total power and stability.
    The dreaded mid-day thing of the past, and I value that
    this natural treatment achieves these results without any unpleasant
    or unfavorable reactions. honestly been a transformative discovery for me.

  90. Having read this I thought it was really enlightening. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this content together. I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  93. Having read this I believed it was rather enlightening. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this short article together. I once again find myself personally spending way too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile.

  96. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I’m hoping to view the same high-grade content by you later on as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my very own website now 😉

  100. Hello there! This post could not be written much better! Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I’ll send this post to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!

  103. I was very pleased to discover this site. I wanted to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and i also have you book marked to see new things on your blog.

  104. An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me lunch because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this topic here on your web site.

Dejar un comentario

Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada. Los campos obligatorios están marcados con *