CSAR Building Head Office Van Houtens Cocoa Johannesburg South Africa Old Postca

nr86 Antique South African specialist 1900s postcard of the head office of the CSAR Buildings in the city of Johannesburg - a scarce view from circa 115 years ago origin used but truly outstanding condition. (please note there are some very interesting things to explore including a large Van Houtens Cocoa advertising sign, cyclists, what seems an alternative entrance to Lindleum House (see left), and more.

Coenraad Johannes van Houten (15 March 1801 27 May 1887) was a Dutch chemist and chocolate maker known for the treatment of cocoa mass with alkaline salts to remove the bitter taste and make cocoa solids more water-soluble; the resulting product is still called "Dutch process chocolate". He has also been credited with introducing a method for pressing the fat (cocoa butter) from roasted cocoa beans, though this was in fact his father Casparus van Houten's invention