The yaupon holly , weigh by many as a weed in the South , is actually an perk up tea leaf that ’s been around for centuries .
If you ’re like 63 % of Americans , you pop out your day with a steaming cup of French press ordrip coffeemade at home or from alocal burnt umber workshop . But when it come togut health , the pane from toast multiple cup of deep brown is n’t always a wise pick . accede yaupon tea , an energizing beverage brewed from the leaves of a native tree grown right here in America . autochthonal people figure this out long ago , and Yaupon Camellia sinensis eventually gained popularity with former colonizers .
Yaupon tea lose traction for nearly 200 years , dominate by coffee and other imported teas . Today , it ’s making a comeback as a casual brew thanks to harvesting in southerly nation ( Texas and Florida ) where the native plant grows . say on for all the delicious , hefty details of drinking yaupon Camellia sinensis .
Credit: Courtesy of CatSpring Yaupon
What Is Yaupon?
Yaupon ( pronounced like yo - pon ) arrive from the industrial plant known asIlex vomitoria , a relative to theholly family . It grows ( extravagantly like an pesky weed , for some ) in tender southern states and is the only caffeinated native works grown in America that is turn into a potable tea . ( Though a relative of the plant calledIlex cassinemay be caffeinated , yaupon is the only known aboriginal caffeinated plant life consumed in North America . ) The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s leave are harvested and can bebrewed like traditional green or black teas(usually made from the plant life speciesCamellia sinensis ) .
What Does Yaupon Tea Taste Like?
If you ’ve ever had yerba mate Camellia sinensis , yaupon has a similar earthy spirit since they come in from the same holly works kinsperson . The difference with yaupon is the spirit variations from preparation method acting ( i.e. , fermenting , oxidizing , dry out , roasting ) . For example , the crazy yaupon harvests atCatSpring Yauponin Texas are turned into three different varieties : green , intermediate , and dark joint . According to one java - loving commentator turned yaupon teatime fan on Amazon , the dark roast " is quite mild and just a lilliputian smoky . "
Yaupon Tea Benefits
According toAbianne Falla , Colorado - founder of CatSpring Yaupon , the tea has a unique combination of caffeine and theobromine ( link to havingantioxidant properties ) . Combined with some bonusanti - inflammatory property , she says , " it really makes you feel good . “Another reasonableness to love yaupon tea is that it does n’t hold in tannic acid ( a chemical compound that apply off a acrid taste in some teas ) , so you may re - immerse the Camellia sinensis multiple sentence without concern the flavor will switch . And if you ’re trying to bemore sustainablewith your consumption , Falla points out that prefer yaupon leaves a little carbon footprint since it ’s sourced flop here in America rather than imported .
How to Brew Yaupon Tea
How you brew your tea might deviate depending on the eccentric , but CatSpring Yaupon urge 1 teaspoon of loose afternoon tea or ( one tea sac ) per 14 - oz. loving cup . You do n’t desire toburn the afternoon tea farewell , so verify the water is at 160ºF to 180ºF , which is a little less than the boiling point ( 212ºF ) . And there ’s no need to get a thermometer ; just let your water kettle rest off the boiling point for 30 to 45 second . outrageous for four to six minutes and enjoy ! Feel gratuitous to re - steep a few more clip ( call back , no tannic acid mean no acrimonious aftertaste ! ) . Just add together a few more moment each fourth dimension to extract the most flavor .
More About Tea for Delicious Sips
Gan , Ren - You et al . " Health Benefits of Bioactive Compounds from the Genus Ilex , a Source of Traditional Caffeinated Beverages . “Nutrients , vol . 10 , no . 11 , 2018 , MDIP , doi:10.3390 / nu10111682
Credit: Courtesy of CatSpring Tea
