The Dutch physician Cornelis Bontekoe was a well-known and controversial figure,1 best remembered as a propagandist for tea.2 His popular Tractaat van het excellenste kruyd thee (Treatise on Tea, the Most Excellent Herb), commonly known as Theetractaat (The Tea Treatise), was printed in 1678, and two more editions appeared in 1679 and 1685.3 Allegedly, he was remunerated by the Dutch United Eas...