Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-14
COFFEE LEAF TEA.

Many of readers doubtless, have heard the joke
Of the Irish waiter who asked boarder at breakfast il
he would pase to have tay tay coffee tay Accord
ing the article from Singapore paper which
friend has handed us, coffee tay promises to become
a reality;
PApAsG, NOVEMBER r. 1852
TO the Editor Of the Singapore Free Press:
SIR In the Singapore Free Press Of the 18th Septem-
Der last extracts from the Colombo Observer, by
which it appears patent has been taken out by Or.
Gardner known to us by his travels in South Amerea)
for preparing the Coffee leaf in manner to AFFORD
like Tea that is BY infusion forming an agree
able, refreshing, and nutritve article Of diet
II may be interesting to DR.. Gardner, his friends and
the public in general learn that an infusion OF the
coffee leaf is article of universal consumption amongst
the natives of this part of Sumatra wherever coffee is
grown the leaf has become OF the very few neeessa
es of life which the natives regard indispensable
The coffee plant in a congenial soil and climate exhibits
great luxurance in its foliage throwing out abundance
of suckers and lateral stems especially when from any
the main m is thrown out OF the perpendicular
which is very liable from its great superintendent
weight compared with the hold of its roots in the ground
The native planters avaling themselves Of this propensi
y, often give the plant considerable inclination, not on
ly increase the foliage but to obtain frutbearing
STEMS when the old become unproductire. 1t is al
found desirable to limit the height of the plant by
Topping off the top increase the produce and facilitate
collecting it, and fresh sprouts in abundance are the GER
tain consequence These many causes of the de-
ve,opment Of vegetation which becomes injurious to the
quantity of the fruit berry unless removed and where
this superintendent foliage be converted into art
Gle Of consumption hitherto the in Sumatra, the
culture must become the profitable and it is clear
y the interest Of the planters of Ceon to respond to the
call of Dr. Gardner and by supplying the leaf
able terms to assist in creating demand for article
they have in abundance, aud which, for the want Of that
demand is of value to them ought to be mentioned
also that the leaves, which become ripe and yellow the
tree and fall off in the of nature contain the largest
portion Of extract and make the richest Infusion and
have doubt should the coffee leaf into gen.
eral the ripe leaf will be collected with much care
as the ripe fruit.
The mode Of preparation by the natives is thus The
ends Of the branches and suckers with the leaves
taken from the and broken into lengths from twelve
to eighteen inches. These arranged in the split of
stick small bamboo, side by sdc forming truss in
such that the leaves all appear side and
the stalks the other the object of which is to
equal roasting the stalks being thus exposed to the fire
together and the leaves together The slit being tied
in two three places and part Of the stick bamboo
left ahande the truss is held over fire without smoke
and kept moving about to roast the whole equally
without burning the success OF which operation the
quality and favor of the article much depends. When
successfully roasted the vegetable taste is entirely
disspated, which is not the if insufciently DONE
When nged oyerdone the extract is destroyed and the
lost When the fire is smoky, the flavor varies
with the nature of the smoke The stalks roasted
equally with the leaves and said to add fully much
the strength Of the infusion. BY roasting the whole
becomes brittle and reduced to powder by rub
bling between the hands In this state it ready for use
and the general mode of preparing the beverage by in
fusion, as in the case of common tea.
If the testimony of one who has been long personally
accustomed TO the of infusion of the coffee leaf
thus prepared be of any avail in recommending the
article public notice. freely offer mine in support of
all which Dr. Gardeners patent claims for it. viz. as
forming agreeable refreshing and nutritye article OF
Diet While find the of infusion of the berry for
a few days invariably TO produce me, as on many
others the effects of and bilious obstruction
drink strong infusion of the legf daily with evident be-
left to my health and strength As restorative on ex
haushon from the seventies Of labor of the weather.
from heat, cold, long exposure to rain, know
nothing superior to it, 1t has also the advantage Of be-
ing powerful disnfectent far neutralzing fedity
goes and solvent OF the viscd fluids which obstruct the
circulation, often the extent of becoming laxative if
taken in extra quantity OF its nutrve power proof
be stronger than that it suspnds hunger and enables
the aborng pursue his work for hours after he
would be otherwise unable. That il would become
valuable article Of diet amongst the laboring
classes and shpboard particularly if once brought in
TO use there be doubt. The coffee tree be
grown advantage for the leaf in the lowands Of every
tropical country where the soil is sufficiently fertile,
whilst requires soil and climate produce the fruit
Nothing appears in the Free Press on the mode Of its
preparation by Dr. Gardner but should think, If roasted
and puverzed and packed in alright cases like tea, IL
would retain its strength and bear transporting to every
part Of the world and it fixes itself more strong
y than either tea coffee in the TASTE il would be-
come more absolute necessary OF life than either of
those articles. In fact, acquainted with no tropical
production capable Of being rendered great blessing
mankind the coffee leaf and 1T would tend mate
rally the disueude Of ardent spirits and strong drinks
its introduction ought have the support Of every friend
TO the moral and material welfare of society.
An 0LD SUMATRAS