Caffeine and Coffee Essentials

Caffeine is an active ingredient in many beverages, including coffee, tea, chocolate, and soft drinks.
It's a type of alkaloid with effects such as alertness, cognition, endurance, mood elevation, and pain relief.
Caffeine can lead to physiological effects like CNS stimulation, increased heart rate, appetite suppression, and diuresis.
It's linked to a lower risk of Parkinson's disease.
Negative side effects include withdrawal, headaches, insomnia, irritability, and birth defects.

Scientific name: Coffea arabica
Originated in Eastern Africa (Ethiopia).
Cultivated in Yemen in the 13th century and spread to Europe in the 17th century.
Played a key role in the Industrial Revolution.
Processed by hull removal, fermentation, drying, and roasting.
Shade-grown coffee is better for birds and the environment compared to sun-grown.
Organic and Fair Trade certifications focus on fair prices and conditions for farmers.
Decaffeination involves soaking coffee beans in a solvent (ethyl acetate). The extracted caffeine is sold for other uses.
Coffee is linked to a lower risk of Parkinson's disease.

Scientific name: Camellia sinensis
Originated in Tibet, India, China, and Myanmar.
Cultivated in China around 2700 BC and introduced to Europe in the late 1600s.
The Boston Tea Party of 1773 was triggered by tea taxation.
It's the most consumed stimulating beverage but has less international trade than coffee.
Processed into black, green, oolong, and white varieties based on fermentation levels.
Theophylline, found in tea, is used for asthma treatment.
Tea may lower cancer rates, boost the immune response, and lower LDL cholesterol.

Scientific name: Theobroma cacao
Originated in South and Central America.
Consumed by the Aztecs and introduced to Spain in the 1520s.
Modern chocolate bars emerged in the 19th century.
Used in food, beverages, and cosmetics.
Cultivated on small trees and harvested by hand.
Processing involves fermentation, drying, roasting, and grinding into chocolate liquor.
Contains caffeine and theobromine, and has potential health benefits like lowering blood pressure, providing antioxidants, and potentially reducing dementia risk.
Ethical issues in the chocolate industry are explored in "The Dark Side of Chocolate."

Scientific name: Nicotiana tabacum
Originated in the Americas.
Used by Native Americans and brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus.
Became popular in England.
Used for smoking (cigarettes, cigars, pipes) and chewing tobacco.
Cultivated in a labor-intensive process that involves careful monitoring and curing.
Processing involves cutting, blending, and flavoring.
Nicotine addiction, cancers, heart disease, and harmful chemicals in smoke are associated with tobacco use.
Tobacco use in developing countries, particularly Indonesia, poses economic, health, and social issues.

Spices played a major role in exploration and trade, with Arab merchants controlling ancient spice trade.
Plant parts used for spices include:
- Bark: Cinnamon
- Berries: Black/white pepper
- Flower Buds: Cloves
- Aril: Mace
- Seed: Nutmeg
- Rhizome: Ginger, Turmeric
- Stigmas: Saffron
- Fruits: Chili peppers, vanilla, allspice
Spices are also used in medicine, perfumes, dyes, and food preservation.
Capsaicin, found in chili peppers, has pain-relieving properties.

Can be classified botanically, commercially, and nutritionally.
Sources:
- Seed fibers: Cotton, coir
- Bast fibers: Flax, hemp, jute
- Leaf fibers: Sisal, Manila hemp

Scientific name: Gossypium hirsutum
Originated in the Americas and domesticated thousands of years ago.
Used for 50% of the world's textiles, making it economically important.
Cultivated in warm climates, with major producers including China and India.
Requires high pesticide consumption during cultivation.
Processing involves harvesting, ginning, carding, and spinning.
The boll weevil pest has had significant historical impact, including during the US Civil War.