302 THE BEASON WHY. 



' Erery man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it if 

 the gift of God." -EcciESiASTES HI. 



throughout the whole world is estimated at above 52,000,000 Ibs., 

 of which the consumption of Great Britain alone amounts to 

 30,000,000. (See 1225). 



1193. What it coffee? 



Coffee is the berry pf the coffee plant, which wts a native of that 

 part of Arabia called Yemen, but it is now extensively cultivated in 

 India, Java, the West Indies, Brazil, &c. (See 1224). 



The first coffee-house iu London was opened in 1632, under the following 

 circumstances. A Turkey merchant named Edwards, having brought along 

 with him from the Levant, some bags of coffee, and a Greek servant who was 

 skilful in making it, his house was thronged with visitors to see and taste this 

 new beverage. Being desirous to gratify his friends without putting himself 

 to inconvenience, ho allowed his servant to open a coffee-house, and to sell 

 coffee publicly. 



Here we have another illustration of the great results springing from trifling 

 causes. Coffee soon became so extensively used that taxes were imposed upon 

 it. In 1660 a duty of 4d. a gallon was imposed upon all coffee made and sold. 

 Before 1732 the duty upon coffee was 2s. a pound ; it was afterwards reduced to 

 Is. 6d., at which it yielded to the revenue, for many years, 10,000 per annum. 

 The duty has been gradually reduced, and the consumption has gone on 

 increasing, until at last above 25,000,000 of pounds are consumed annually ! 

 Fancy this great result springing from a " friendly coffee party" that assembled 

 in the year 1652. 



1194. What is chocolate ? 



It is a cake prepared from the cocoa-nut. The nut is first 

 roasted like coffee, then it is reduced to powder and mixed with 

 water, the paste is then put into moulds and hardened. The 

 properties are very healthful, but its consumption is very insignifi- 

 cant, as compared with tea or coffee. The cocoa tree grows chiefly 

 in the West Indies and South America. 



1195. What is cocoa? 



Cocoa is also a preparation from the seeds or beans of the cocoa 

 tree. But the best form of cocoa for family use is to obtain the 

 beans pure, as they are now commonly sold ready for use, and to 

 break them and then grind them in a large cofiee mill. 



119G. W hat is chicory ? 



Chioory is the root of the common endive, dried and roasted as 

 toffee, for which it is used as a substitute. Some persons prefer 

 the flavour of chicory admixed with coffee. But very opposite 



