Tea by some is condemned in terms the most vehement and unqualified, while others have either asserted its innocence, or gone so far as to ascribe to it salubrious, and even extraordinary virtues. The truth seems to lie between those two extremes; there is, however, an essential difference in the effects of green tea and of black, or of bohea; the former of which is much more apt to affect the nerves of the stomach than the latter, more especially when drank without cream, and likewise without bread and butter. That, taken in a large quantity, or at a later hour than usual, tea often produces watchfulness, is a point that cannot be denied; but if used in moderation, and accompanied with the additions just now mentioned, it does not sensibly discover any hurtful effects, but greatly relieves an oppression of the stomach, and abates a pain of the head. It ought always to be made of a moderate degree of strength: for if too weak it certainly relaxes the stomach. As it has an astringent taste, which seems not very consistent with a relaxing power, there is ground for ascribing this effect not so much to the herb itself as to the hot water, which not being impregnated with a sufficient quantity of tea, to correct its own emollient tendency, produces a relaxation, unjustly imputed to some noxious quality of the plant.

But tea, like every other commodity, is liable to damage, and when this happens, it may produce effects not necessarily connected with its original qualities. It is allowed that coffee promotes digestion, and exhilarates the animal spirits; besides which, various other qualities are ascribed to it, such as dispelling flatulency, removing dizziness of the head, attenuating viscid humors, increasing the circulation of the blood, and consequently perspiration; but if drank too strong, it affects the nerves, occasions watchfulness, and tremor of the hands; though in some phlegmatic constitutions it is apt to produce sleep. Turkey coffee is greatly preferable in flavor to that of the West Indies. Drank, only in the quantity of one dish, after dinner, to promote digestion, it answers best without either sugar or milk; but if taken at other times, it should have both; or in place of the latter, rather cream, which not only improves the beverage, but tends to mitigate the effect of coffee upon the nerves. Chocolate is a nutritive and wholesome composition, if taken in a small quantity and not repeated too often; but is generally hurtful to the stomach of those with whom a vegetable diet disagrees.

By the addition of vanilla and other ingredients, it is made too heating, and so much affects particular constitutions as to excite nervous systems, especially complaints of the head.