Another is ephedra, which the Chinese call ma huang. Like coffee and tea, it has been brewed into a beverage for thousands of years and consumed for its stimulant effects. Cola nuts, which contain caffeine, are used to make the stimulant beverage, Coke. Legally we classify these stimulant beverages as foods. Instant coffee is a concentrated form of coffee, with at over three times as much caffeine, by weight, as coffee.
Instant tea is another concentrated stimulant beverage.
Ma huang extract is made by the same process as instant coffee, and similarly concentrated, with about three times as much alkaloid as ephedra herb. Licorice extract is another highly concentrated food substance, one used for flavor and aroma. There are many other concentrates with potential toxicity used in food. None of these substances is dangerous in reasonable quantities. Dietary Supplements Dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals and other substances are almost always concentrated.