What do you imagine the apocalypse would look like? We picture it without caffeine. Yes. No caffeine. How long would your body last on a Monday morning without a big cup of strong coffee?
For centuries, yaupon, a shrub native to the southeastern United States, has been one of the most overlooked plants in the country. But now that everything is changing and our planet is heading toward a climate shift that will end up being disastrous, this caffeinated plant is starting to get the attention it deserves… just in case we run out of coffee!
Also, import tariffs on tea and coffee are going up, and that’s pushing many consumers to rediscover yaupon as an alternative. 100% domestic, natural, and also sustainable!
What is yaupon?
Common in the southeastern part of our country, it’s the only plant with caffeine that grows naturally in North America.
Its leaves contain caffeine and theobromine (the same stimulants found in the cacao plant), and they’re used to make tea-like drinks. The Cherokee and the Creek used it in ceremonies. Besides being sustainable, it’s a drink with history!
Now what?
Companies like CatSpring Yaupon are promoting the comeback of this plant from Texas, where they harvest and process it to offer local infusions that rival traditional black or green tea. It’s not just a drink, it’s a boost for rural economies in the United States.
A shrub with history
Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) is a variety of holly that contains natural caffeine, well known among Native American communities for its stimulating properties. Although it was nearly forgotten outside those circles for decades, its use goes back long before the Boston Tea Party of 1773.
When the colonists dumped more than 92,000 pounds of tea into the sea as a protest, they didn’t go without caffeine: they had yaupon as a local resource, grown on their own land! They knew what they were doing!
New tariffs, new opportunities
Tariffs on imported tea and coffee keep going up, and some people are choosing not to give in to foreign products and are giving yaupon a chance.
Because by drinking yaupon, they’re supporting the local economy and avoiding those import costs.
CatSpring Yaupon and the future of tea made in the USA
CatSpring Yaupon, based in Texas, is one of the companies strongly backing the revival of yaupon, and no wonder! With eight active harvest sites, they produce infusions that keep the shrub’s earthy flavor and take advantage of its antioxidant and energy-boosting properties.
Its founder, Abianne Falla, believes yaupon’s moment has arrived: consumers are looking more and more for local, sustainable, and healthy products, and this plant offers all that with a story that connects to the country’s roots. Could it really bring yaupon to the level of the famous green tea?
Can yaupon replace traditional tea?
Let’s be honest, traditional tea dominates the global market. It would be tough for yaupon to suddenly beat all tea varieties. But in our country, it could happen, because it clearly has advantages over its competitors: it doesn’t need pesticides, it doesn’t need much water, and it grows wild in the South.
So, for those looking for caffeine and a smaller environmental impact… isn’t yaupon more than just an option?
Yaupon is making a comeback, more as a symbol of independence than as a cultural icon, but it’s back. History shows us we can keep drinking caffeine without paying high tariff prices. History, culture, and environmental awareness, this native plant is becoming an unexpected star in the world of infusions!
And if the forecasts are right, it won’t be long before yaupon stops being a secret among botanists and becomes a regular item in American homes and cafés. Have you tried it yet?