FAQ's:
1.) Are you sure Yaupon Holly is safe to consume?
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Answer: Yes! Both the Unites States' USDA and USFS have conducted studies showing there are no properties or substances in Yaupon Holly leaves known to induce vomiting. Rather, many compounds within Yaupon Holly like Theobromine and Cholorgenic acid have been shown to improve the immune system, blood circulation, and thus gut health.
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Note: The berries and branches of Yaupon Holly are mildly toxic and should not be consumed by humans
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2.) How can I clearly identify Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)?
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Answer: Yaupon Holly is an easily recognizable dicot in the holly genus, with bright red berries in the fall and white flowers in the spring (if its female). The USDA provides a simple plant guide for proper Identification
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https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_ilvo.pdf
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3.) Where can I find Yaupon Holly?
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Answer: Yaupon Holly grows all throughout the coastal plains of the southeastern US. It generally occurs in the coastal plains region on well-drained sandy soils. It can be found on the upper edges of brackish and salt marshes, sandy hammocks, coastal sand dunes, inner-dune depressions, sandhills, maritime forests, nontidal forested wetlands, well-drained forests and pine flatwoods.
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4.) Can I grow Yaupon Holly myself?
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Answer: Yes! Yaupon Holly is extremely hardy, and can survive being transplanted. It is resistant to both the heat and cold, and requires very little water. Even more so, Yaupon can be propagated from cuttings, seeds, or transplants!
From the USDA plant guide, "Root suckers and small seedlings may be dug near mature trees and have a high rate of success when transplanted. Dig new material when the ground is moist, and transplant to a pot or desired location. Keep transplants moist to reduce transplant shock."
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5.) Why isn't Yaupon more available in the US?
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Answer: Were not sure. Yaupon Holly tea has a comprehensive list of positive health benefits, along with countless environmental and social benefits (besides tasting great).
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Help be the change!
tell a friend, share this site, or go make some yourself and discover the wonders of Yaupon Holly
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References
Coladonato, M. (2020). Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). Species: Ilex vomitoria. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/ilevom/all.html
Crown, P. L., Emerson, T. E., Gu, J., Hurst, W. J., Pauketat, T. R., & Ward, T. (2012). Ritual Black Drink consumption at Cahokia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(35), 13944–13949. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1208404109
Down the Yaupon Rabbit Hole: America's first tea. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi4LTmdHfv8
Edwards, A. L., & Bennett, B. C. (2005). Diversity of Methylxanthine Content in Ilex cassine L. and Ilex vomitoria Ait.: Assessing Sources of the North American Stimulant Cassina. Economic Botany, 59(3), 275–285.
Gan, R.-Y., Zhang, D., Wang, M., & Corke, H. (2018). Health Benefits of Bioactive Compounds from the Genus Ilex, a Source of Traditional Caffeinated Beverages. Nutrients, 10(11), 1682. doi: 10.3390/nu10111682
Hale, E. M. (1891). Ilex Cassine: the aboriginal North American tea: its history, distribution, and use among the native American Indians. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Botany.
Hudson, M. Charles. (1979). Black Drink: a Native American Tea. UNIV OF GEORGIA Press.
Helmer, J. (2017, March 28). Pinkies Up! A Local Tea Movement Is Brewing. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/28/521380607/pinkies-up-a-local-tea-movement-is-brewing
It's Texan, for tea. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.catspringtea.com/
Kim, Y., & Talcott, S. T. (2012). Tea Creaming in Nonfermented Teas from Camellia sinensis and Ilex vomitoria. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 60(47), 11793–11799.
King, A., Powis, T., Cheong, K., Deere, B., Pickering, R., Singleton, E., & Gaikwad, N. (2018). Absorbed Residue Evidence for Prehistoric Datura Use in the American Southeast and Western Mexico. Advances in Archaeological Practice, 6(4), 312-327.
King, A., Powis, T. G., Cheong, K. F., & Gaikwad, N. W. (2017). Cautionary tales on the identification of caffeinated beverages in North America. Journal of Archaeological Science, 85, 30–40.
Negrin, A., Long, C., Motley, T. J., & Kennelly, E. J. (2019). LC-MS Metabolomics and Chemotaxonomy of Caffeine-Containing Holly (Ilex) Species and Related Taxa in the Aquifoliaceae. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 67(19), 5687–5699.
Palumbo, M. J., Talcott, S. T., & Putz, F. E. (2009). Ilex Vomitoria Ait. (Yaupon): A Native North American Source of a Caffeinated and Antioxidant-Rich Tea. Economic Botany, 63(2), 130–137.
Palumbo, M. J., Putz, F. E., & Talcott, S. T. (2006). Nitrogen fertilizer and gender effects on the secondary metabolism of yaupon, a caffeine-containing North American holly. Oecologia, 151(1), 1–9.
Staughton, J., Staughton, J., Hegde, R., Hegde, R., Staughton, J., & Staughton, J. (2020). Yaupon Tea: Benefits & How To Make. Retrieved from https://www.organicfacts.net/yaupon-tea.html
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry, Northern Regional Research Laboratory. (1943). The American Cassina plant as the source of a table beverage. Peoria, IL.
Wild Edible. (n.d.). Yaupon holly: nearly as much caffeine as coffee. Retrieved from https://www.wildedible.com/wild-food-guide/yaupon-holly
Yaupon Brothers American Tea Co. (2020). Retrieved from http://www.yauponbrothers.com/
Zuzurnetra, S. (2018). 10 Benefits Of Yaupon Tea. Retrieved from https://www.tinyqualityhomes.org/benefits-of-yaupon-tea/
History of yaupon, medicinal properties and methods of preparing. (2020). Retrieved from https://lostpinesyaupontea.com/pages/about-yaupon
Union blockade. (2020). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_blockade#/media/File:Scott-anaconda.jpg
About Yaupon. (2020). Retrieved from https://yauponteahouse.com/pages/about-us
Denton, M. (2019). Yaupon Tea: 4 Surprising Reasons to Use Yaupon Holly. Retrieved from https://oyasin.io/yaupon-tea/
(2020). Retrieved from https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ILVO
Gowdy, J. D. (2013). The Boston Tea Party. Retrieved from https://wjmi.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-boston-tea-party.html
Florida Center for Instructional Technology & University of South Florida Special Collections Department, University of South Florida. (2020). Exploring Florida. Retrieved from http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/native/lemoyne/lemoyne6/lemoy633.html
Pinellas County Dept of Environmental Management. (1999). Yat Kitischee: The archaeology of a prehistoric coastal hamlet. Pinellas County Dept of Environmental Management, Florida.
Richmond, B. (2020, January 09). The Forgotten Drink That Caffeinated North America for Centuries. Retrieved April 12, 2020, from https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-yaupon-tea-cassina
Gotter, A. (2017). The Potential Health Benefits of Rutin. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/potential-benefits-of-rutin