Roasting of seeds and drinking of coffee, began in 13th century Yemen, and from there, spread throughut Arab world. Dutch introduced tree to East Indies and Sri Lanka, with Java becoming a major supplier to Western Europe. Cuttings made it to South America, where Brazil and Colombia are now the world's largest producers. Coffee rust, Hemileia vastatrix , has a major impact on coffee cultivation. From 1870s to 1890s, it wiped out coffee in Sri Lanka.
Teas grow best at higher elevations, plentiful rainfall, and no frost.
Only a few leaves are picked at one time, with new ones coming every 1-2 weeks. The beverage is made from dried tip leaves. Tea became popular in 1600s, especially in England. British East India Company official import company to the US, but the colonists preferred cheaper smuggled tea, hence, Boston Tea Party. The cacao tree in Central and South America is a small understory tree that makes football-shaped pods from flowers borne directly on the trunk.