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WHERE DOES CAFFEINE
COME FROM?
4.
Caffeine is found in at least 60 plants. It
acts as a natural pesticide, killing certain
insects that try to eat the plants.
Coffee beans are the world’s most
common source of caffeine. Caffeine
is also in tea leaves, cocoa nuts, and
the kola nut.
16
Caffeine was first used by Stone Age people
who got it from chewing on bark, plants,
and seeds. They probably noticed that when
they chewed certain trees and plants, they
felt more alert and had more energy. Ancient
Native Ameri-
cans drank some-
thing they called
“Black Drink,”
which also
contained
caffeine.