Now we are up to Leaf 15, it is time to take a break for morning coffee or afternoon tea (depending on your time zone).

Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, and Coffea species C. arabica and C. canephora, are the cultivated plants that provide humankind’s favourite beverages. In term s of their botanical taxonomy, tea and coffee plants are all Asterids, which includes about a third of all flowering plants

Both tea and coffee are very rich in an assortment of phenolics that are easily extracted by hot water. Along with dozens of other plants, tea and coffee both contain #caffeine (aka theine), analkaloid that is structurally related to the purine bases of DNA and RNA. The benefit the plants gain is that caffeine is a natural pesticide deterring herbivores and insects. Additionally, caffeine-rich plant debris deters the germination of competing seedlings nearby.

Among the many other phenolics in tea and coffee, tea is noted for its high content of #catechins and #tannins. Most of these phytochemicals molecules have good antioxidant activity and other positive physiological effects in tea and coffee drinkers that supposedly include cardiovascular benefits and improved digestion (via effects on the gut microbiome?). Caffeine, of course has known stimulatory effects and appears in recognised medicines administered orally, via suppository and intravenous or intramuscular injection.

Tea and coffee extracts are used as in numerouscosmetic products, providing antioxidative power and tightening the skin(tannins). Notably, caffeine appears to counter cellulite by reducing fat accumulationin skin cells (Herman & Herman, 2013).

Some of you may notice that many of the phytochemicals and biological phenomena mentioned above have been mentioned in previous postingsin the series. As you drink your tea or coffee you may want to “leaf through” some of them. And for those who prefer hot chocolate, be assured that it has many of the same phytochemicals and health benefits.

Sources:

• Caffeine, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caffeine&oldid=1065085753

• https://dermaviduals.de/english/publications/special-actives/alkaloids-in-cosmetic-applications.html

• Herman A, Herman AP. Caffeine's mechanisms of action and its cosmetic use. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2013;26(1):8-14. https://doi.org/10.1159/000343174