REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 129 
TEA AND COFFH® SUBSTITUTBES. 
During the past year there have been received at ae department 
“several substitutes for tea or coffee, in more or less general use in the 
several localities whence they came. None of these possessed any chem- 
ical properties or botanical relations to either tea or coffee, but in some 
cases an accidental resemblance could be seen, which, perhaps, has 
chiefly accounted for their use among the common people. 
1. First among these may be mentioned the so-called “Poor Man’s 
Cofiee,” received from John Jay Lewis, Fulton, Ark. This consists of 
the seeds of the Cassia Occidentalis— Wild Senna—natural order, Legumi- 
nose. 
These seeds contain small amounts of a volatile oil and of a fixed oil; 
a purplish-red coloring matter, soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in ether, 
water, and acidulated water; a soluble albuminoid; a very large pro- 
portion of mucilaginous matter; a trace only of starch; also water, ash, 
and cellulose. The following determinations were made: 
Per cent. 
EO ea ce tis ciiie oon an pe wae eoetioeeasnnwatae duesee sae ba 6. 83 
iiein= =s------. ema Sn eide wea tie Dieters aoa ae aem seeking ciatuate patie meee 4, 00 
SE PEL PLRITLIE caiinttle csiioee mec thea ae dte cide tein See Yeuies vlctaes a> Soekates 7.06 
PMI AE TUDO Cisse alte emacs oo aa one an chee ac ash Cat oectas eaeee oe 4,25 
Eee da ee tema eon conse es smbaes enon sate ceese aks mades acces 4.04 
BeneerenCONGINAO, (SIRTCH Ao ssclet. alc aa. aeconed wecces scuecs sndecneoeuabes 73. 82 
100. 00 
When roasted the seeds have an odor resembling somewhat that of 
roasted coffee; and this odor seems to be due to partial volatilization of 
the oil and charring of the mucilaginous matter. These seeds are fre- 
quently used in Germany to adulterate coffee. (Am. Jour. Pharm., June, 
1879, p. 303; Pharm. Ztschr. f. Russl., March 13, 1879, p. 116, from Chem. 
Ztg.) 
2. “ Bush Tea,” received from Alphonso Taylor, United States consular 
agent, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The absence of flowers or fruit in 
the sample made its botanical identification impossible. The leaves 
contain about five per cent. of resin, a volatile oil possessing an agree- 
able fruity odor, considerable tannin, gum, and chlorophyll. No theine 
or other alkaloid was present. The taste of its decoction is doubtless 
due to the tannin and volatile oil present. 
3. “ Mountain Tea,” or, as it is locally known, “ Blue Mountain Tea,” 
received from Nathan Dundoro, Philadelphia, Pa. This tea is said to 
have: been collected and used for very many years by the common peo- 
ple of Berks and adjacent counties of Pennsylvania. It is the Solidago 
odora or Sweet-scented Golden Rod. Its infusion is rather different from 
tea, but is quite agreeable in taste and odor. The volatile oil present 
doubtless gives it these peculiar properties. A full account of this plant 
is given in the United States Dispensatory. 
4. “ Native Tea,” received from Dr. George H. Waddell, Greenwood, 
S. C., is Sida stipulata, Nat. Ord., Malvacew. No theine or other alka- 
loid is present, and its decoction has very little resemblance to tea. 
5. “ Yaupon,” Ilex cassine, received from Robert Chisholm, Charles- 
ton, 8. C., is of the same family as the Paraguay Tea, Mate, Ilex Para- 
guayensis, and like it contains a little theine, volatile oil, and tannic 
acid. Its infusion is a very good substitute for tea. An analysis may 
be found in the monthly reports of this department for 1872. ‘ 
6. “Common Gromueill,” Lithospermum officinale, Nat. Ord., Borragi- 
nace, received from Governor J. B. Wakefield, Minnesota. This plant 
9 AGR 
