The word Caffeine originates from the German word “Kaffee” and the French word “Café”, which both translate to “coffee”. Based on the chemical formula of caffeine, its chemical name is 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine. Other chemical names for caffeine are coffeine, theine, mateine, guaranine, and methyltheobromine.
Caffeine has been consumed by the prehistoric man since the Stone Age. They were not aware of the substance, but found that chewing seeds, bark, or leaves of certain plants eliminated the sense of fatigue, stimulated awareness, and increased happiness. Later on when the molecule caffeine was discovered it was proven to have these effects, which were increased by immersing such plants in hot water. This new beverage was called coffee or tea.
Nobody is certain about where coffee originated but many suggestions lead to Ethiopia where Coffea Arabica originates. At the end of the 16th century, coffee was introduced to the Europeans and was well known in the Near East. By the 17th century, coffee became very popular in Europe, where it was known as “Arabian wine”.
Archaeological discoveries show that the cocoa bean was around in 600 B.C. in ancient Mayan culture. Caffeine was introduced to countries such as Europe through chocolate. In the New World, chocolate was consumed in a drink called xocoatl, which was believed to eliminate the sense of fatigue; an effect of caffeine.
Caffeine has been consumed by the prehistoric man since the Stone Age. They were not aware of the substance, but found that chewing seeds, bark, or leaves of certain plants eliminated the sense of fatigue, stimulated awareness, and increased happiness. Later on when the molecule caffeine was discovered it was proven to have these effects, which were increased by immersing such plants in hot water. This new beverage was called coffee or tea.
Nobody is certain about where coffee originated but many suggestions lead to Ethiopia where Coffea Arabica originates. At the end of the 16th century, coffee was introduced to the Europeans and was well known in the Near East. By the 17th century, coffee became very popular in Europe, where it was known as “Arabian wine”.
Archaeological discoveries show that the cocoa bean was around in 600 B.C. in ancient Mayan culture. Caffeine was introduced to countries such as Europe through chocolate. In the New World, chocolate was consumed in a drink called xocoatl, which was believed to eliminate the sense of fatigue; an effect of caffeine.