Welcome back to our virtual book club, where we explore the world’s most beloved stories through the lens of fragrance. Today, we’re taking a look at Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate (1989), a novel where food, scent, and emotion are inextricably linked. This magical realism masterpiece invites us to experience life in early 20th-century Mexico through the eyes—and nose—of Tita de la Garza.
A Quick Note About Like Water for Chocolate and Laura Esquivel
Published in 1989, Like Water for Chocolate (Como Agua para Chocolate) tells the poignant tale of Tita de la Garza, a young woman bound by family tradition to remain unmarried so she can care for her mother, Mama Elena. Through Tita’s culinary creations, Esquivel explores themes of love, longing, and rebellion, blending the magical with the everyday in a novel that’s as fragrant as it is emotional.
The title, Like Water for Chocolate, refers to the boiling point of water for making hot chocolate—symbolizing passion, intensity, and the simmering emotions that define the novel. Let’s explore how fragrance plays a crucial role in Tita’s story.
Born in the Kitchen
Tita’s life begins in the kitchen, literally born amidst the aromas of simmering noodle soup, thyme, bay leaves, cilantro, steamed milk, garlic, and onion. This sensory introduction sets the stage for a life where the kitchen is both her sanctuary and her prison. The smell of these ingredients not only anchors Tita to her Mexican heritage but also foreshadows the way food and emotion will be intertwined throughout her life.
Fragrances:
- Simmering Soup and Herbs: The comforting, homey scent of noodle soup simmering with thyme, bay leaves, and cilantro symbolizes the deep roots of tradition that shape Tita’s existence.
- Garlic and Onion: Pungent and grounding, these aromas highlight the everyday reality of Tita’s life, as well as the tears that often accompany her journey.
Memory and Scent
Tita’s cooking is imbued with memory, and scent plays a vital role in this connection to the past. When preparing certain dishes, Tita breathes in the characteristic smoke and aroma, allowing the scents to transport her back in time. Whether it’s the smell of browning almonds and sesame seeds or the scent of apricots in marmalade, these fragrances bring Tita vivid memories of love, loss, and longing.
Fragrances:
- Browning Almonds and Sesame Seeds: These warm, nutty scents kindle culinary pleasure and the deep emotions tied to past loves and experiences.
- Apricots and Marmalade: The sweet, tangy fragrance of apricots reminds Tita of a specific afternoon, where the scent of fruit mingled with the tension of unexpected encounters.
The Fragrance of Forbidden Love
Pedro’s love for Tita, though forbidden, is a constant undercurrent throughout the novel. The scent of roses, particularly attar of roses, becomes a powerful symbol of their passion. The smell is so penetrating that even the mortar used to grind the petals retains the fragrance for days. This heady, romantic scent underscores the intensity of their love, which persists despite societal and familial obstacles.
Fragrances:
- Attar of Roses: The rich, floral scent of roses symbolizes the undying love between Tita and Pedro, its intensity lingering long after the petals have been crushed.
- Bitter Almonds: Echoing the taste of forbidden love, this scent adds a bittersweet note to the novel’s romantic tension.
Scent as a Signal
Throughout the novel, scents signal more than just the presence of food—they convey emotions, desires, and even danger. Pedro’s reaction to the smell of browning sesame seeds, for example, is as much about culinary anticipation as it is about sexual tension. Similarly, Tita’s experience of an itch and the smell of sweat and mud evokes the raw, primal emotions of life and death. This shows the novel’s blend of sensuality and survival.
Fragrances:
- Sweat and Mud: The earthy, raw scents of sweat and mud represent the primal, instinctual desires that surface in moments of intense emotion.
- Cinnamon and Vanilla: The sweet, warm scents used in Tita’s rebellious baking symbolize her growing strength and desire for freedom, contrasting with the oppressive atmosphere of her home.
The Fragrance of Transformation and Liberation
As Tita begins to reclaim her life, the scents in the novel take on a transformative quality. When Tita prepares a meal, the smell of chocolate or freshly whipped atole often fills the air, creating a sense of comfort and connection to her maternal roots. The scent of orange blossoms and jasmine, always present in Tita’s body, symbolizes her inner beauty and resilience, even as she faces life’s challenges.
Fragrances:
- Orange Blossoms and Jasmine: These delicate, floral scents represent Tita’s natural grace and the strength she finds within herself, even in the face of adversity.
- Chocolate and Atole: Rich and comforting, these aromas connect Tita to her past while also symbolizing the nourishment and warmth she offers to those she loves.
The Scent of Final Peace
In the novel’s closing chapters, Tita finds a sense of peace, though tinged with the bittersweet fragrance of roses. The lingering smell of roses, even in a place where they no longer physically exist, speaks to the lasting impact of Tita and Pedro’s love. As Tita prepares her final meal, the scents of fresh herbs, bread baking, and candle wax fill the air, creating a fragrant atmosphere that encapsulates both closure and continuity.
Fragrances:
- Rosemary and Sage: These herbs, often associated with wisdom and healing, represent Tita’s final reconciliation with her past and her acceptance of what she cannot change.
- Baking Bread and Candle Wax: The warm scents of baking bread and candle wax symbolize comfort, tradition, and the light of love and memory.
Final Thoughts
Like Water for Chocolate is a novel that engages all the senses, but it is the sense of smell that truly brings its world to life. By exploring the fragrances associated with each chapter, we can deepen our connection to Tita’s journey, experiencing her joys, sorrows, and triumphs through the scents that permeate her world.
Next time you pick up this novel, imagine the scents that fill Tita’s kitchen. Let these aromas guide you through the story, and perhaps, like Tita, you’ll find that the kitchen is not just a place of cooking, but a space where emotions, memories, and love come together to create something truly magical.
