Like Water for Chocolate

Content Warning: The Chapter 7 Summary depicts sexual assault.

The chapter begins with a recipe for oxtail soup, a dish believed to have healing properties. After three months at Dr. John Brown’s home, Chencha visits Tita and brings her oxtail soup. Tita remains mute, spending her days listening to John talk and watching him play with his son Alex. The smell of the oxtail soup reminds Tita of Nacha and reawakens her passion to cook—which she feared she’d lost. Tita’s memory stirs: “[...] times with Nacha, the childhood games in the kitchen, the trips to the market, the still-warm tortillas, the colored apricot pits, the Christmas rolls, the smell of boiled milk, bread with cream, chocolate atole, cumin, garlic, onion” (89). The scent of onion causes Tita to cry, and Chencha weeps with her. Their river of tears runs down the stairs, alarming John. Though Tita is crying, he is happy to see her emotions. As he leaves, Tita breaks her silence and formally asks him to stay. Chencha gives Tita a report from the ranch; Mama Elena forbid Chencha from visiting Tita and refuses to speak her name.