Catha edulis.
Botanical name:
Catha edulis Forsk. Celastraceae. Arabian Tea. Kat.
A shrub of tropical Africa. The leaves are used by the Arabs in the preparation of a beverage possessing properties analogous to those of tea and coffee. Large quantities of twigs with the leaves attached are annually brought to Aden from the interior. The shrub is called by the natives cafta. Prior to the introduction of coffee, says Pickering, the use of kat was established in Yemen by Alt Schadheli ben Omar. Various virtues are attributed to the leaves which are eaten with avidity by the Arabs.
Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World, 1919, was edited by U. P. Hedrick.
