A Curious Discovery
In 1580, Italian botanist Prospero Alpini traveled to Egypt and encountered a world of unfamiliar plants. Among the baobab trees and opium poppies, he observed the coffee bush, a plant unknown to Europe. This discovery led to the first European description of coffee in his work, De Plantis Aegypti.
A New Ritual
Alpini noted how Egyptians consumed coffee as a hot brew, a practice that soon spread across Europe. Unlike wine, coffee was sold in public houses, becoming a social and cultural phenomenon.
Clashing with Humoral Theory
Physicians of the time struggled to classify coffee within the prevailing humoral system, which linked foods to bodily fluids. Some argued coffee was heating; others claimed it cooled the body. This confusion mirrored debates over other new imports like chocolate and tea.
The End of an Era
As new medical ideas emerged in the 17th century, humoral theory weakened. Coffee, tea, and chocolate challenged the old medical paradigms, marking a shift toward modern medicine and changing how society viewed health and diet.
How Coffee Changed the Course of European Medicine ☕️
A Curious Discovery
In 1580, Italian botanist Prospero Alpini traveled to Egypt and encountered a world of unfamiliar plants. Among the baobab trees and opium poppies, he observed the coffee bush, a plant unknown to Europe.… pic.twitter.com/pZ7XB2wf7P— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) September 25, 2024