Caffeine is an alkaloid occurring naturally in some 60 plant species, of which cocoa beans, kola nuts, tea leaves and coffee beans are the most well-known. Other natural sources of caffeine include yerba maté, guarana berries, guayusa, and the yaupon holly1.
Where does caffeine originally come from?
The best-known source of caffeine is the coffee bean, the seed of the Coffea plant. People may drink beverages containing caffeine to relieve or prevent drowsiness and to improve cognitive performance. To make these drinks, caffeine is extracted by steeping the plant product in water, a process called infusion.
Is caffeine naturally occurring or synthetic?
Caffeine was first discovered naturally occurring in plants such as cacao, guarana berries and yerba mate. It is now known to be present in over 60 different plant species. Natural caffeine is rarely found on its own; it is often present with a range of vitamins and methylxanthines also found in the plant.
