Sources: Sweet Treats around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture

Abstract

What do Torments of Love, Lady's Upper Arms, Sigh of a Lima Woman, and Little Spiders have in common? They are all sweet treats featured in this encyclopedia authored by the Roufs. Timothy Roufs is a cultural anthropologist who teaches food-related courses at the University of Minnesota, Duluth while Kathleen Roufs is emeritus director of advising and retention at the same university. The preface states that the volume "explores this myriad feast of sweets with an emphasis on an anthropological approach that focuses on foods in a holistic, historical, and comparative manner" (xix). The introduction goes into detail about humans' love for sugar, fat, and salt.