70 THE WONDERFUL HOUSE THAT JACK HAS 



appetite, but by what experience shows is best for his 

 body. As far as children are concerned, there is no 

 question. Growing bodies need nutriment, not stimu- 

 lants, and young people who care to be healthy and 

 vigorous should not risk using either coffee or tea. 



Tea leaves contain a substance called tannin, which, 

 when dissolved in the process of making, gives a bitter 

 taste to the liquid and retards the digestion of other 

 foods. On this account, tea should be prepared as 

 follows : pour boiling water on the tea leaves and allow 

 it to remain without boiling four minutes. Then strain 

 the liquid into a hot earthen pot. Do not allow the 

 leaves to stay in the hot water a longer time, as 

 the harmful tannin will be dissolved. Tea that tastes 

 bitter should not be drunk, for this is a sure sign that 

 it contains tannin. 



But how is it with the beverage friends, chocolate 

 and cocoa? Do they simply stimulate the body 

 without giving building and fuel materials ? They are 

 both made from the cocoa bean, which, like coffee, is 

 the seed of a small tree. Besides, having stimulating 

 properties very similar to those of coffee and tea, 

 cocoa seeds are about one-fifth proteid, one-half fat, 

 and one-tenth starch. When these seeds have been 

 roasted and divested of their husks, they are known 

 as cocoa nibs. These are ground into an oily paste, 

 mixed with sugar and flavoring matter, usually vanilla, 

 and allowed to harden into small cakes, to make choco- 

 late. 



