TEA MAKING ~— 123 
substance may be present in one species, and absent in 
another ; present in one organ of a plant, and absent in 
another ; and occur in varying amounts in the same 
organs of different ages. The genus Camellia to which 
the tea-plant belongs well illustrates these points : 
caffeine is present in C. Thea (tea), but absent in C, 
japonica ; while its occurrence in the organs of the 
tea plant and in tea leaves of different ages is well shown 
by the following figures— 
CAFFEINE IN CAMELLIA THEA 
1. Leaf (pegnees leaves) . . « . 492% 
ae ee } 7 tot 1 337 | Wu Pasquier) 
_ (4th, wy ) eo 6 6 6 BAT 
. Hairs of young leaves . . . . 2:2 
2 
3. Sag Ste et eS Sens BP a ed 
4. Bar SL Sy GG ae He de . ae 
5. Petals ae tee ble Ee Various authorities 
6. Twigs Bi SP Beek RS) Ee Re Be GOES 
7. Seeds . 8 geet Bp eae a TaN 
The essential oil occurs in exceedingly small quanti- 
ties (‘006 per cent. in manufactured tea), and, broadly 
speaking, the two most striking constituents are the 
caffeine and the tannin. We call down blessings on 
the former as a stimulant, but look askance at the latter 
as an unavoidable evil with abundant powers of gastric 
derangement. By happy instinct those who can afford 
to do so eschew cheap teas and drink the “ best ”’ (i. e. 
highest priced) teas, claiming satisfactory results especi- 
ally in regard to tannin effects. We are therefore the 
more surprised to find that chemical analysis shows that, 
in any one class of tea, the expensive teas commonly 
contain in the cup more tannin than cheap teas! e. g. 
