240 PLANTS AND MAN 



Holland being almost eleven pounds per person yearly. In addi- 

 tion to containing about 1 % of a gentle stimulant, theobromine, 

 and a trace of caffeine, cocoa is really a food as well as a beverage, 

 since it contains up to 50% of a fatty oil, and lesser amounts of 

 starch and protein. 



Another beverage plant belonging to the cacao family is the 

 COLA tree, a West African species producing seeds with a high 

 caffeine content. The beverage, cola, is prepared by boiling the 

 powdered seeds in water for a few minutes. The resultant infusion 

 contains about 2% of caffeine and is very stimulating. A well 

 known soft drink uses small amounts of cola, and coca leaves 

 which have been extracted of their narcotic principle cocaine, 

 discussed as a drug plant in Chapter 22. The caffeine content of a 

 glass of this beverage is about the same as that of a cup of coffee. 



Two other caffeine beverages, both used in South America, 

 are guarana, made from the crushed seeds of a woody climbing 

 plant of the Amazon valley, and verba mate or Paraguay tea, 

 which is made from the leaves of various holly species growing 

 wild and cultivated in South America. 



With improvement in canning and preserving methods, fruit 

 juices are becoming increasingly popular as beverages, in addi- 

 tion to their former use as appetizers before meals. There are 

 several advantages of canned fruit juices over freshly expressed 

 juices; they are more easily available to the user, and they are 

 cheaper than those prepared in the home from fresh fruits. 

 Furthermore, during seasons of overproduction in fruit growing 

 regions, the excess fruit may be juiced and canned, rather than 

 being placed upon an already crowded market at a much lowered 

 price. The development of enamel-lined tin cans has greatiy 

 increased the desirability of canned fruits and vegetables in 

 general, and has greatly simplified the process of sterilization 

 over that originally necessary when juices especially were pre- 

 served in glass bottles. Likewise, less care is required in handling 

 and transporting the canned products. 



Alcoholic Beverages 



Regardless of the favor or disfavor with which alcoholic 

 beverages may be viewed, the fact remains that this type of 



i 



