The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-18
Substitutes for
Chinese Uea

"A r ANY substitutes for tea can be
M found in any ordinary woods.
The idea is not new one.
for many country folk made
use Of the substitutes IN the DAYS when
the luxury OF Chinese tea was not SO
easily afforded as now. Before the
Revolution. when the coionists were in
a turmoil over the stamp taxes. II
was considered unpatriotic 20 drink tea
that had paid tribute 10 the govern
ment. and the so-calIed Liberty tea was
the popular drink.
The four-lcaved loose strife was. no
doubt. the herb from which this bever-
age was made. possibly with the aid OF
various other herbs This plant grows
q foot or two high. and may be recog-
nized by its simple. upright stem. upon
which the leaves are set in whorls OF
four or five. the yellow starlike flowers
being produced on long. slender stocks
from near the base OF the leaves. II is
common 20 almost every woodland
The New Jersey Tea.
The leaves OF the New Jersey tea. a
low bush which grows everywhere in
dry woodlands. and bears in June and
July a profusion Of delicate white
blooms, was also extensively used dur
Ing the Revolution An infusion OF the
leaves boils bright amber color. and
In looks is as attractive as the real
beverage but the taste. though astrin-
gent, Is BY no means lively.
some effort has been recently made
In commercial circles to revive the use
or this plant as a substitute for tea.
The leaves are said to contain about 10
per cent Of tannin. Herclock leaves and
those OF the arbor vitae have PLAYED
an important part in the making OF rus
tic tea The arbor vitae Is a tree that
grows wild in great abundance in North
crn woods, and the Old-time Maine Iurr-
bermen used frequently TO resort TO its
leaves FOR tea when other heritage fail
ed them for the purpose 1t was
thought 10 be very invigorating.
The leaves Of the wintergreen. a small
plant. whose bright red berries. about
the size OF peas. are sold on the streets
under the name OF teaberry. have long
been used for tea From this it takes
the name by which it is known in
Pennsylvania New E,nglanders. for
some unknown reason. call it checker
berry. The foliage is very aromatic
and people who like dash of spiciness
IN their drink have sometimes added
it, favor TO real tea
The Creeping SnOwberIy.
1t is near Of kin and similar in taste
to the creeping snowberry, a small.
delicate vine, abundant in the great
boys and messy woods OF the North
and Allegheny regions. and this Is also
: approved by mountain psIates as a sub
stitute for tea
Thoreau. in The Maine Woods tells
Of his Indian guide bringing it into
camp one night and recommending il
as the best of all substitutes for tea
1T has slight checkerberry flavor"
he records. and we both agree that Il
was better than the black tea we had
brought We thought IL a discovery
and that il might be dried and sold in
the shops"
The foliage and flowers OF all the
golden rods are imbued with an ast-in-
gent principle and are mOdera tcly
stimulant. so that their suitability for
the manufacture OF a domestic tea was
recognized by the American colonists
as long ago as when George III was
king over them One species. the fra
grant leaved goidenrod. known some
times as Blue Mountain tea. possesses.
in addition, the flavor of licorice- Drunk
piping hot in the wilderness. ii makes 4
pleasant feature in the campers limited
menu.
This especial kind OF goIdenrod be-
gins 20 bloom quite early In the sum-
mer and is easy of recognition. even by
the nonbotanical. because of the leo
rice perfume which the leaves give out
| when rubbed. 1t is a very common
species in the pine barrens OF Jersey.
The astringent quality. in a greater
or less degree. is possessed by nearly
all these plants. They also contain
considerable fannie acid in their make
up These two qualities go far to make
tea the popular beverage it is.