Functional beverages and compositions are provided that suppress allergic
rhinitis and prevent and treat hyperlipemia and related diseases thereof
i.e. arteriosclerosis, obesity and liver diseases. The O-methylated
catechin expressed by the chemical formula (1) shown below is included in
a constitutive effective amount as an allergic rhinitis-suppressing drug
and a lipid-lowering drug; [in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each
independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, X1 and X2 are each
independently a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group.]