Tea, its history and mystery

by Joseph M. Walsh

Cenopodium—or “Mexican tea,” made from an infusion of the leaves and seeds of that plant, but used only as a remedy in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis by the natives of that country.

Pimento—or “Trinidad tea,” prepared from a decoction of the leaves of the pimento, and is in common use in that and other of the West India islands both as a beverage and a medicine.

Bun-fullup—or “Jungle tea,” found in the Naga range in eastern Assam, and used by the Singphos in the same manner as the Chinese species and also as a medicine.

Khat—or “African tea,” produced from an extract of the Khola nut, the active principle of which has recently been ascertained to be identical with that of the tea of commerce, is much used among the nomad tribes of Somali, the Soudan and other African countries.

Cathadules—or “Arabian tea,” prepared from the leaves of that shrub in the same manner as ordinary tea, and extensively cultivated there for that purpose, as much attention being bestowed on it by the natives as on coffee. The leaves are also chewed, when green, like those of the Coca in South America, being highly intoxicating in effect, particularly in the wild state.

Saxifraga—or “Siberian tea,” produced from a decoction of the leaves of that plant, but used only as a beverage in the same manner as those of China tea.

Epilobium—or “Russian tea,” is prepared from the dried leaves of the common willow, and are also extensively used for mixing with the regular teas of commerce, commanding as high as four roubles a pound in the dried state, for that purpose; being also in common use among the poorer classes of that country as a substitute for China tea.

Buxifolium—or “Labrador tea,” is made from an infusion of the leaves of that plant, and used extensively as a beverage by the natives of that country and adjoining provinces.

Appalachian—or “Pennsylvania tea,” is prepared from an infusion of the Punos plant found growing in a wild state on the Allegheny mountains, and used as a beverage as well as for the purpose of imparting heat; and while very closely resembling the tea-plant of China in its structural character, of its merits or drinking qualities as a tea nothing definite has as yet been ascertained.

Ceanothus—or “New Jersey tea,” known to the Indians as “pong-pong,” is prepared from the leaves of Red-root, and was at one time in general use and very popular among the natives of Virginia and the Carolinas, and was also extensively used in Revolutionary times as a substitute for China tea when refusal was made to pay the tax upon the latter.