John Walker is Reader in Plant Biochemistry at the University of Canterbury, where he investigates novel drugs from NZ native plants.
Beware - This Tea Could Be Dangererous
1 May 1993
Our everyday "cuppa" comes from the plant Camellia sinensis and it, together with a number of other common drinks including coffee, cocoa, guarana and maté contain small quantities (10-100 mg per cup) of caffeine, a mildly stimulatory alkaloid. In addition many people enjoy hot and cold beverages made from a wide variety of other herbs such as chamomile and dried raspberry leaves.