A variety of substances are exhibited in Case 49 in illustration of the
use of the leaves of various plants for making potable infusions. The
most important is Paraguay tea or “maté,” which contains the same
alkaloid called _theine_, as the Chinese tea plant. A quantity of “maté”
is shown, with calabash or dried gourd for making the infusion, and
sucking pipe for drinking it. A large number of substances have been
employed from time to time as substitutes for Coffee, and prepared in the
same way. Many of them are shown in Case 52. In this country none of
these so-called Coffee Substitutes have established themselves in public
reputation, and are seldom sold. Some of them, however, are used as
adulterants of Coffee.