The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-11-24
kPubIc Place Friday 27h Your ptouny
SUBSTITUTES FOR TEA.
Leaves of Various Herbs and Plants
Used In some Places Instead
OF Chinese Article.


as now. Before the revolution, when
the colonists we're in turmoil over
the stamp taxes, It was considered un-
patriotic to drink tea that had paid
tribute to the government and the So
called liberty tea was the popular drink
says the New York Herald.
The four leayed loose strife was, no
doubt, the herb from which this bey-
erage was made, probably with the aid
OF various other herbs This plant
grows a foot or two high, and may be
recognized by its simple, upright stem
upon which the leaves are set in whorls
OF four or fve. the yellow starlike fiow-
ers being produced on long, slender
stocks from near the base Of the leaves.
II is common to almost every wood
land
The leaves of the New Jersey tea,
low bush which grows everywhere In
dry woodlands. and bears in June and
July profuslon Of delicate white
blooms, was also extensively used dur
ing the revolution An infusion OF the
leaves boils bright amber color. and
in looks II is as attractive as the real
beverage; but the taste, though astrin-
gent, is by no means lively.
Some effort has recently been made
in commercial circles to revive the use
OF this plant as a substitute for tea
The leaves are said to contain about
ten per cent. of tannin. Hemlock leaves
and those OF arbor vitae have played an
important part In the making Of rus
lie tea. The arbor vitae Is tree that
grows wild in great abundance IN
northern woods. and the old time Maine
iumberman used frequently to resort TO
its leaves for tea when other heroage
failed them for the purpose. It was
thought TO be very inyigorating.
The leaves of the wintergreen. a
small plant. whose bright red berries
about the size cf peas. are sold on the
streets under the name Of teaberry
have long been used for tea From this
Il takes the name by which 1t Is known
in Pennsylvania. New Englanders. foI
some unknown reason, call II checker
berry. The foliage Is very aromatic
and people who like a dash OF spicinesi
in their drink have sometimes ADDED
its flavor TO real tea.
II Is near Of kin and similar In taste
20 the creeping snowberry. a small, del
lcate vine. abundant in the great bog
and mossy woods Of the north and AT
leghany regions. and this is also ap-
proved By mountain palates as SUB
stitute for tea
Thoreau, in The Maine Woods.
tells Of his Indian guide bringing Il int
camp one night and recommending 1t a.
the best OF all substitutes for tea II
has a slight checkerberry favor b
records. "and we both agree that 1t wa
better than the black tea we ha'
brought. We thought Il a discovery an'
that II might hg dried and sold In th'
shops"
Better known as a tea plant Is tn
Labrador tea. or the ledum latifolia o
the botanlsts. which grows in the COLI
bogs and mountain woods from Penn
eylvania northward. The leaves. whicl
emit a slight. not unpleasant fragranc
when bruised. are tough and leathery
and covered with a rusty brown WOO
STEPPED, they give a wild, gamy Hayo
10 hot water. and the drink resultin
suggests a poor grade Of black tea.
Sweet fern. which Is such an abundan
growth everywhere on sterile hillsid
and by mountain roads. is another fa
nous tea plant often known as "moun
tain tea" During the war Of the rebel
lion IT'S use for tea was particular
! prevalent IN the southern states, an
many a southern lady who was reare
ia luxury was reduced to drinking thi
poor substitute for her favorite Oolon
or fowery Pekoe.
The foliage and flowers Of all ~
eoldenrods are iHbued with sn astrir
gent prlncipIe. and are moderately stin
: nlant so that their suitability FOR th
manufacture Of a domestic tea was Fe'
: oenised by the American colonists
long ago as when George III was kin
over them. one species. the fragrar
2 leaved goldenrod. known sometimes
Blue Mountain tea. possesses, In add
ton. the flavor Of licorice. Drunk pil
ing hot IN the wilderness. il makes
pleasant feature in the campers limit'
! menu.
: TA.s especial kind Of goldenrod b
rirs 10 bloom quite early in the sun
mer and is easy Of recognition, even 7
the non-botanical. because Of the lic'
rice perfume which the leaves give ol
= when rubbed. It is a very comme
+ species in the pine barrens Of jersey
b The astringsnt quality. in a greater
& less degree. IS possessed by nearly
these plants They also contain CO.
siderable tannic acid IN their makeu
These two qualities 90 far to make Z
j. the popular beverage II Is.
. succe.a In smallpox Cases.