SUBSTITUTES IN USE FOR TEA. 49 



country, where it is at present extensively used alone and 

 as an adulterant. 



Coffee-leaf Tea in use in many of the Coffee-grow- 

 ing countries, most notably in Arabia, Sumatra and the 

 West India islands. It is prepared from the roasted 

 leaves of the coffee-tree in the same manner as China 

 tea, the natives of these countries particularly preferring 

 it to any decoction made from the berries of the latter. 



Strawberry-leaf Tea obtained from the leaves of 

 the common strawberry shrub, carefully dried and cured 

 after the manner of the China plant. They are prepared 

 and used in Germany particularly as a tea ; they yield a 

 very close imitation of the liquor and flavor of the regu- 

 lar tea of commerce, so much so that quite an industry 

 has sprung up in their cultivation and preparation as a 

 substitute for tea in that country. The celebrated " Faham 

 tea" of the Mauritius being still another remarkable sub- 

 stitute for the tea of China. But as with many of the 

 foregoing should be regarded in the light of medicine 

 rather than that of a regular beverage. 



That this characteristic element Theine should be pres- 

 ent not only in the Tea-plant of China and Coffee-plant of 

 Arabia, but also in so many others widely differing, so 

 remote in situation, and so unlike in appearance, and 

 from which millions of people in all parts of the world 

 draw a refreshing and exhilarating beverage, is a striking 

 and beautiful fact in nature. Under such a fact there may 

 be more significance than science has yet elicited. 



