AN IMPROVED PREPARATION OR MIXTURE TO BE USED WITH OR AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR Coffee
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Lambert de Montoison, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PREPARATION OR
MIXTURE TO BE USED WITH OR AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR Coffee"
Sealed the 19th February 1878, and dated the 6th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Lambert de Montoison
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1877.
JOSEPH LAMBERT DE MONTOISON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
AN IMPROVED PREPARATION OR MIXTURE TO BE USED WITH OR AS A SUBSTITUTE
FOR COFFEE"
18
This improved preparation (which I propose to call "melilotine chicory") is
intended to be used as a substitute for coffee either by itself or mixed with
ordinary "chicory," to improve the flavor and economise the use of the coffee, or
instead of ordinary chicory mixed with a small proportion of coffee.
The material which I use for the purpose consists of the stones or kernels of the
date or fruit of the great palm tree (phoenix dactylifera).
I prefer to use the stones in a fresh state, as taken from the fruit, but they may be
obtained from the waste produced in the distillation of whiskey from dates or
otherwise.
The stones are well washed and freed from saccharine and saccharic acid, and are
then roasted and ground in the same manner as coffee. This preparation may
either be mixed with a quantity (more or less) of chicory, or it may be used entirely
instead of chicory for mixing with and substituting for coffee, and will be found
more suitable than any other known mixture used for this purpose, as it does not
contain anything of a disagreeable flavor or injurious to health, but it considerably
improves the quality of the coffee; and as it contains "coumarin" and a large pro-
portion of the principle of honey called "melilotine" it is tonic and soothing to the
digestive organs. It also modifies the bitterness and the smell of molasses contained
in chicory, and the too exciting character of coffee, which is so pernicious to stomachs
of many persons.

page_text: The proportions in which I propose to use this preparation or mixture are as
follows, namely:-From 5 to 50 parts of ordinary chicory to 50 parts of " melilotine
chicory," either with or without the addition of about 5 per cent. or more of ordinary
coffee.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Lambert de Montoison in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st April 1878.
"
JOSEPH LAMBERT DE MONTOISON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
AN IMPROVED PREPARATION OR MIXTURE TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR
Coffee."
My Invention relates to an improved preparation which I call "melilotine
chicory," intended for use either alone or mixed with ordinary chicory as a substitute
for coffee, or coffee and chicory, or to be mixed with coffee as a substitute for or in
addition to the chicory ordinarily mixed with coffee.
The material from which this improved preparation is manufactured consists
of the stones or kernals of the date or fruit of the great palm tree (phoenix
dactylifera).
I prefer to use the stones in a fresh state as taken from the ripe fruit, but they
may be obtained from the dried fruit or from the waste product of the distillation
of alcoholic spirit from dates, or be otherwise obtained.
The stones or kernals are first well washed in water to free them from saccharine
and saccharic acid, and are then roasted and ground in the same manner as in the
treatment of coffee berries, or the fruit or pulp containing the stones may be subjected
to pressure and be roasted and ground. This preparation may either be used
entirely alone, as a substitute for coffee, or be mixed with a quantity of ordinary
chicory, and so used or be mixed with coffee, or with both coffee and ordinary
chicory.
In either of the above-mentioned cases a decoction is made with the material or
mixture in the same way as with ordinary coffee. This preparation I consider to
be more suitable than any other known mixture or material for the above-mentioned
purposes, as it does not contain anything injurious to health or of a disagreeable
flavor. On the contrary it considerably improves the flavor of the coffee when
mixed therewith, and as it contains “coumarin" and a large proportion of the
principle of honey called "melilotine" it is tonic and soothing to the digestive
organs.
When mixed with ordinary chicory or coffee, or with both, as herein-before
mentioned; it also modifies the bitterness and the mollasses-like odour which are
characteristic of common chicory, and the too exciting nature of the coffee which
has such a pernicious effect on the stomachs of many persons.
The proportions in which I propose to use this preparation are as follows, namely:-
From 5 to 50 parts of ordinary chicory to 50 parts of "melilotine chicory," either
with or without the addition of 5 per cent. or more of ordinary coffee, but these
proportions may be varied as considered to be desirable.

page_text: Having now set forth the nature of my Invention I would have it to be under-
stood that I claim the manufacture or preparation from the stone or kernal of the
date fruit, or from such fruit, of a material suitable for use in lieu of coffee or in
admixture therewith, or with chicory, or with coffee and chicory, substantially as
herein-before set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Lambert de Montoison, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOSEPH LAMBERT DE MONTOISON. (Ls)