Bogota Tea - Specimen details
| Catalogue Number: 50444 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Image | Plant Name | 103.02 SYMPLOCACEAE Symplocos theaeformis | Entry Book Number | 17.1920 | |
| Artefact Name | Bogota Tea | Vernacular Name | |||
| Iso Country | Colombia | TDWG Region | Colombia | ||
| Parts Held | Bogota Tea | Geography Description | Bogota D.C.x0Dx0ALocality revised 2019 | ||
| Uses | Bogota TeaUse: FOOD User: Man | TDWG use | FOOD | ||
| Storage | Bottles, boxes etc | Related Items | |||
| Donor | Dawe MT | Donor No | |||
| Donor Date | 17/04/1920 | Donor Notes | |||
| Collector | Collector No | ||||
| Collection Notes | Collection Date | ||||
| Exhibition | Expedition | ||||
| Number Components | Publication | ||||
| Notes: | Label source: Ref. Letter to Capt Hill dated Jan 1920 Letter 253, 1920, xiii p.198 - MT Dawe Letter dated Cartaglna June 18th 1920 to Capt Hill. - Imperial Inst; Report on Bogota Tea from Colombia: the sample of Bogota Tea which is the subject of thisr, eport was forwarded to the Imp. Inst. by Mr MT Dawe and is refered to in his letter of 25th Sept 1919. It was stated that the material was formerly used in Colombia for the preparation of a beverage. Description of sample - the sample weighed 12ozs and co, nsisted of small yellowish or bronze green leaves measuring from 5/8 to 1 1/2 inches in length. the material was in dry brittle condition. Specimens of the leaves were forwarded to RBG Kew and identified as S.alstonia L'Herit. Results of examination -thel, eaves were examined chemically at the Imp. Inst. with the following results Moisture 10.3% Ash 5.8% Total Extract (Matter soluble in boiling water) 31% Extract of infusion for 10 mins 26.1% Tannin 6% Alkoloidal matter 0.38% An infusion of the leaves made, like tea gave a clear liquid with a greenish brown tint which had a unpleasant odour and taste. Remarks - the Bogota tea contains a small amount of alkaloidal matter but no caffeine. It would therefore not possess the properties of ordinary tea which cont, ains about 3 1/2% caffine, and would not serve as an effective substitute for tea. No information appears to be available regarding the constituents of the leaves and in order to determine whether they exert any physiological action due to the alkaloidpre, sent or any other constituent, it would be necessary to carry out trials with specially prepared extracts. In any case the leaves would be quite unsuitable for export to the UK as a tea substitute. 26 April 1920.x0Dx0AMinor Modification (2019): S.theiformis | ||||
| Determinations: | 103.02 SYMPLOCACEAE Symplocos theaeformis Gurke. 103.02 SYMPLOCACEAE Symplocos alstonia L'Herit. 103.02 SYMPLOCACEAE Symplocos theiformis (L.f.) Oken | ||||