9781422288047

4.

WHERE DOES CAFFEINE COME FROM?

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.

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.

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