46 SUBSTITUTES IN USE FOR TEA. 



are also two doubtful species, known as Cankrosa and 

 Candata, referred to by Wallach, as growing in Silhet 

 and Nepaul. 



IIV 



Previous to the seventeenth century it had long been 

 the custom in many countries of Europe to make hot 

 infusions of the leaves of various plants, most notably 

 those of the Salvia (sage), which had at one time a high 

 reputation as a " panacae," being greatly extolled by the 

 Solieman school of physic, as a potent factor for the 

 preservation of health, and it is the custom at the present 

 time in many other countries where it is difficult or 

 impossible to obtain China tea, to use the seeds or 

 leaves of other plants as substitutes, the active principle 

 of which, in many instances, is analagous, and in others 

 identical with it. Among the former are the leaves of 

 plants destitute of theine (the active principle of tea), but 

 which possesses some other stimulating properties, and 

 among the latter the leaves and seeds of other plants con- 

 taining that principle, and consequently producing the 

 same exciting effects, these include Coffee, Cocoa and 



Yerba Mate or " Paraguan tea," a species of Ilex, or 

 holly, the leaves of which yield the same active principle 

 (theine) characteristic of the China tea-plant. So closely 

 does it resemble the latter in effect that many authorities 

 claim it to be a species of that shrub, upwards of forty 

 million pounds being annually produced and consumed 

 in Paraguay and other South American countries. 



Coca Tea used extensively in Peru and Bolivia, 

 composed of the dried leaves of the Coca tree, but 

 though generally chewed, is more frequently prepared 

 as a tea by the natives. In the infusion it possesses 



