Coffee, Tea, Chocolate & Tobacco: Effects, Origins, and Processing in Food and Beverages

"Caffeine: Effects

"↑ alertness, heart rate, metabolism; stimulant of CNS.",

"Caffeine: Desired

"Focus, energy, mood boost, reduced fatigue.",

"Caffeine: Undesired

"Insomnia, anxiety, dependence, ↑ BP, withdrawal headaches.",

"Coffee: Scientific name

"Coffea arabica main, C. canephora Robusta.",

"Coffee: Origin

"Ethiopia → Yemen → Europe → worldwide.",

"Coffee: History/Uses

"Beverage, rituals, major trade good.",

"Coffee: Processing

"Harvest → ferment → dry → roast → grind → brew.",

"Coffee: Shade vs. Sun

"Shade-grown = richer flavor, biodiversity; Sun-grown = high yield, more pesticides, deforestation.",

"Coffee: Organic/Fair Trade

"Improves sustainability and farmer wages.",

"Coffee: Decaf

"Solvent removal or water extraction.",

"Coffee: Health

"Antioxidants, ↓ risk of Parkinson's & Type II diabetes moderate use.",

"Coffee: Film

"Black Gold - inequities in coffee trade.",

"Tea: Scientific name

"Camellia sinensis.",

"Tea: Origin

"China and India.",

"Tea: Processing

"Young leaves dried, fermented or not black, green, oolong.",

"Tea: Theophylline

"Mild stimulant; relaxes airways, increases alertness.",

"Tea: Health benefits

"Antioxidants, heart health, metabolism boost, stress relief.",

"Chocolate: Scientific name

"Theobroma cacao.",

"Chocolate: Origin

"Central & South America.",

"Chocolate: History/Uses

"Mayans/Aztecs → Europe; drink → candy.",

"Chocolate: Processing

"Harvest → ferment → dry → roast → grind → conch → temper.",

"Chocolate: Health

"Dark chocolate = antioxidants, heart benefits.",

"Chocolate: Issue

"Child labor & exploitation The Dark Side of Chocolate.",

"Chocolate: High price

"Labor-intensive and ethical supply chain issues.",

"Kola / Soft Drinks

"Cola nitida seeds Africa - caffeine-rich; used in early Coca-Cola.",

"Tobacco: Scientific name

"Nicotiana tabacum.",

"Tobacco: Origin

"Americas.",

"Tobacco: Uses

"Smoking, chewing, snuff.",

"Tobacco: Processing

"Cured by air, flue, or fire drying.",

"Tobacco: Health

"Nicotine addictive; causes heart disease, cancer, lung issues.",

"Tobacco: Developing countries

"Major economic crop; case studies in Indonesia show poverty & child labor.",

"Spices: Old World

"Cinnamon, pepper, cloves, nutmeg/mace, ginger/turmeric, saffron.",

"Spices: New World

"Chili pepper, vanilla, allspice.",

"Spices: Uses

"Flavoring, preservation, medicine, trade goods.",

"Herbs: Mint family

"Basil, oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary.",

"Herbs: Parsley family

"Parsley, cilantro, dill, carrot.",

"Herbs: Mustard family

"Cabbage, broccoli, mustard, radish.",

"Herbs: Lily family

"Onion, garlic, chives.",

"Herbs: Medicinal uses

"Digestive aid, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory.",

"Fibers: Function

"Aid in seed/fruit dispersal, protection.",

"Fiber types: Seed fibers

"Cotton, coir, kapok.",

"Fiber types: Bast fibers

"Flax linen, hemp, jute, ramie.",

"Fiber types: Leaf fibers

"Sisal.",

"Cotton: Scientific name

"Gossypium spp.",

"Cotton: Origin

"India, Egypt, Americas.",

"Cotton: History

"Important in U.S. South; linked to slavery and Civil War.",

"Cotton: Cultivation

"Warm climates; heavy pesticide use.",

"Cotton: Processing

"Ginning → spinning → weaving.",

"Cotton: Disease

"Boll weevil.",

"Cotton gin

"Eli Whitney 1793 revolutionized production.",

"Cotton: GMO

"Pest-resistant strains.",

"Other fibers

"Flax - linen; Hemp - ropes; Jute - sacks; Sisal - mats; Ramie - silky; Coir - coconut husk; Kapok - life jackets.",

"Coconut: Scientific name

"Cocos nucifera.",

"Coconut: Fruit type

"Drupe.",

"Coconut: Dispersal

"By water floats.",

"Coconut: Uses

"Food milk, oil, water, fiber coir, building materials.",

"Coconut: Health

"MCTs for quick energy; debated heart health effects.",

"Palm oil: Issues

"Deforestation, orangutan habitat loss.",

"Rubber: Scientific name

"Hevea brasiliensis.",

"Rubber: Origin

"Amazon → Southeast Asia.",

"Rubber: Processing

"Tapping latex → coagulation → sheets.",

"Rubber: Vulcanization

"Goodyear; sulfur added for elasticity & strength.",

"Rubber: Uses

"Tires, gloves, industry.",

"Wood: Oak Tree Uses

"Furniture, flooring, barrels.",

"Wood formation

"Secondary xylem from cambium.",

"Hardwoods

"Oak, maple, walnut.",

"Softwoods

"Pine, hemlock gymnosperms.",

"Paper: Source

"Wood pulp cellulose fibers.",

"Paper: Types

"Mechanical newsprint, chemical writing paper.",

"Paper: Environmental issues

"Deforestation, bleaching pollution.",

"Paper: Alternatives

"Hemp, bamboo, recycled paper.",

"Bamboo: Origin

"Asia.",

"Bamboo: Growth

"Fast-growing grass.",

"Bamboo: Processing

"Cut, dry, laminate.",

"Bamboo: Uses

"Building, furniture, paper, textiles, eco-friendly alternative."